GMAT Critical Reasoning: Common Pitfalls
First, try this question yourself. There are eight options, and you need to choose the correct one. For the remaining seven options, consider what type of error each represents.
Indonesia has long been shadowed by its growing problem of drug abuse. To deter people from selling drugs, the country’s National Narcotics Agency has suggested a punishment: Drug dealers in Indonesia will be made to eat their own supply until they die.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously call the suggestion above into question?
(A) Some seriously abused drugs, such as Methcathinone, are not banned in Indonesia.
(B) If Indonesia successfully tackled drug abuse, the GDP of Indonesia will significantly drop by almost half.
(C) Drug dealers in Indonesia are generally not aware of the lethal effect of excessive drug intake.
(D) The rate of drug abuse in Indonesia is much higher than in the Philippines.
(E) The Indonesian government believes that tackling traffic congestion should be prioritized over drug abuse.
(F) The problem of drug abuse can be solved by treating drug addicts.
(G) The average price of drugs in the Indonesian black market has soared to a level that most drug addicts cannot afford.
(H) Unlike lethal drugs such as heroin, some drugs, such as LSD, are not lethal to humans.
Answer (view by highlighting): C
Obstacle 1: Grasping the Conclusion
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The conclusion here is the suggested punishment: “Drug dealers in Indonesia will be made to eat their own supply until they die.” The purpose of this plan is “to deter people from selling drugs.”
If you’re having trouble finding the conclusion, refer to: CR Fundamentals (1): How to Find the Conclusion Sentence?
Obstacle 2: Predicting the Reasoning Path
This question presents a “Plan” and asks us to “Weaken” it. A good answer to a Plan + Weakening question will usually point out a potential negative side effect that could prevent the plan’s purpose from being achieved. Incorrect answers often introduce factors that don’t really impact whether the purpose can be met.
If you read this and didn’t try to predict possible correct/incorrect answer strategies, refer to: CR Fundamentals (2): Before Looking at Options, Try to Predict Correct/Incorrect Answer Strategies
Obstacle 3: Initial Screening for Basic Errors
B, E: These two options are “Off-Topic.”
If you picked B or E, you likely missed the connection between the conclusion’s goal and the option’s focus. Neither B’s “impact on GDP” nor E’s “traffic congestion problem” is relevant to deterring drug dealers. The conclusion’s goal is singular: “to deter drug trafficking.”
D: Irrelevant Comparison.
If you chose D, you might have overlooked that the passage is specifically about Indonesia. Comparing Indonesia’s drug abuse rate to the Philippines’ doesn’t weaken the proposed plan.
F: Unrelated Alternative Solution.
Questions about plans are different from cause-and-effect questions. Just because another solution exists doesn’t mean the proposed plan won’t work or achieve its goal.
If you chose incorrectly or couldn’t clearly explain why you didn’t choose one of the above four options, refer to: CR Fundamentals (3): Initial Screening of Options
Obstacle 4: Choosing Between Confusing Options
A, H: Seemingly related factors, but the direction is uncertain.
These options might initially seem plausible. For A, if some abused drugs aren’t banned, does that weaken the plan? Maybe, but the word “some” is vague. It could be a tiny fraction or a large one. For H, the fact that some drugs aren’t lethal doesn’t directly address the plan’s goal of deterring dealers.
G: Also Off-Topic.
Option G talks about drug prices and affordability. While this might affect drug *use*, it doesn’t directly weaken the plan to deter *dealers*. The plan’s aim is to stop people from selling, not necessarily to stop people from buying.
C: Directly Undermines the Plan’s Goal.
This is the correct answer because it directly attacks the effectiveness of the punishment. If drug dealers don’t know that eating their own supply can be lethal, they won’t be deterred by the threat of death. This directly questions whether the plan will achieve its purpose of deterring dealers.
If you chose incorrectly or couldn’t clearly explain why you didn’t choose one of the above three options, refer to: CR Fundamentals: Initial Screening of Options, CR Fundamentals: How to Avoid Confusing Options?
