Weaken the argument explanation
Last updated: 13 Oct 2008
Lets apply our strategy to the question.
Some rental car agencies in the U.S. are now looking into installing satellite-guided navigation systems in their automobiles. The driver inputs the address on a keyboard, and the on-board computer calls out directions in American English, such as "You are now approaching Main Street". Rental car agencies hope to target foreign tourists and travelers unfamiliar with the United States.
Which of the following, if true, provides the greatest reason to suggest that the plan will not work?
- These new computer navigation systems are expensive to install in many automobiles.
- Some foreigners visiting the United States may not understand English.
- Some people argue that the computer's voice sounds extremely cold and impersonal.
- Many American citizens will also want to take advantage of the satellite-guided navigation systems.
- In the average U.S. city, paper maps and city guides are available in almost every hotel and gas station.
Firstly we will confirm which type of critical reasoning question it is. The question comes after the text and says
Which of the following, if true, provides the greatest reason to suggest that the plan will not work?
It makes it clear that we want to weaken the argument to suggest a good reason why the argument for the plan is flawed.
Now we can apply our strategy for weaken the argument questions.
Identify the conclusion/main idea
In this question we want to weaken or attack the plan, so our first step is to identify it.
The plan, aimed at foreigners in the U.S., is to install computer systems in rental cars that call out directions in American English.
Anticipate the answer
Remember, nothing in the GMAT is there by accident. Why foreigners? Why American English? Ah-ha, that's the key. We could probably anticipate that these travelers and tourists will not understand the directions! Therefore, the plan will not work.
Thus B looks tempting, but let's also try to get to the correct answer through the process of elimination.
Process of elimination
A says the system is expensive to implement in many cars. On the surface this seems to weaken the idea, but perhaps the investment in installing the system is worth it. Even though expensive, A does not tell us the plan will not work.
In C the computerized voice is cold and impersonal, and while that might make people uncomfortable, it does not mean that the system will not do what it is supposed to do.
In D, the fact that other U.S. citizens might also want the system does not weaken the idea for the rental car companies.
And in E, the suggestion that there are already non-computerized guides readily available does not weaken the idea of having the computerized system, in fact, they could possibly complement each other.
Choose the answer
In this case we are sure that B is the best answer because it basically states what we anticipated - that the plan will not work because people will not understand the computer's English and we have eliminated all the other answers.
Good explanation.
Initially I thought E to be the answer reasoning that if we already have maps easily available then why should we use computerized.
But the process of elimination here works beautifully