gmat cr5 weaken.ppt

Jaime Smith
No Quiz! 
Must Be True Homework Review
Weaken Questions
Critical Thinking Vocabulary Puzzle
Homework
Orange GMAT Questions
66, 102,
If time, also 70, 101, 103, 
 
CR Bible Questions
7, 8
mon question type in the Critical Reasoning section of the GMAT
3rd family – the HURT family
Which of the answer choices undermines the argument the most?
The stimulus will contain an argument
Find the conclusion and premises
Focus on the conclusion – the answer choices will affect the conclusion
Information in the stimulus is suspect – there could be reasoning errors!
The answer choices should be accepted, even if they include new information!
NOTE: This is the opposite of Must Be True questions!
Weaken answer choices CAN add new information to the argument.
Do not dismiss an answer choice for a Weaken question because it isn’t mentioned in the stimulus!
The stem will usually include the word weaken or a synonym, such as:
Attack
Undermine
Refute
Argue against
Call into question
Challenge
Damage
Counter
Cast doubt
Contradict
The stem says that you should accept the answers choices as true with a phrase like:
“Which of the following, if true, …”
“Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?”
“Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the conclusion drawn above?”
“Which of the following, if known, is evidence that contradicts the hypothesis above?
Attack the premises
(What are premises?)‏
This is a great way to attack an argument.
However, this method is NOT often used
on the GMAT.