GMAT Verbal: Critical Reasoning Evaluate the Argument 2

Question 1

A city claims its new bike-share program reduced car traffic because car counts on Main Street fell 15% after launch. Which question is most useful to evaluate this argument?

Accepted Answer

Did overall city traffic change, or did cars simply reroute to other streets?

Answer

If cars merely rerouted, total traffic was unchanged and the program gets undeserved credit.

Question 2

A company argues that its wellness program cut sick days because employees who joined took fewer sick days than those who didn't. What would most help evaluate the argument?

Accepted Answer

Whether healthier employees were the ones who chose to join the program

Answer

Self-selection of already-healthy employees would explain the difference without the program causing it.

Question 3

An editor argues that adding more photos increased magazine sales, since the issue with the most photos sold best. Which is most useful to evaluate this claim?

Accepted Answer

Whether that issue also had a uniquely popular cover story

Answer

A standout cover story could be the true cause of high sales, undermining the photo explanation.

Question 4

A school says a new tutoring program raised test scores because scores rose the year it began. What information would best help judge this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Whether scores were already trending upward before the program

Answer

A pre-existing upward trend would mean the rise was not caused by the program.

Question 5

A manager concludes that remote work lowers productivity because output dropped the quarter remote work began. Which question best evaluates this?

Accepted Answer

Did an industry-wide demand slump occur the same quarter?

Answer

An external demand slump could fully explain the output drop independent of remote work.

GMAT Practice Test

GMAT Practice Test

GMAT Verbal: Critical Reasoning Evaluate the Argument 2