Question

Burger Land, a nationwide fast-food chain, recently announced a special promotion dramatically reducing the price of its most popular burger, the Big and Beefy. This development has provoked a strong response by the nation's nutritionists. Citing the extremely high levels of cholesterol in the Big and Beefy, they predict that the price reduction will have a negative impact on the health of our citizens. The nutritionists' argument assumes which of the following?

Short answer

The promotion will result in increased consumption of the Big and Beefy burger.

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Prompt

Read the exercise carefully. We need to identify the assumption made by the nutritionists in their argument about the price reduction of the Big and Beefy burger and its impact on health.

- Identify the Argument's Components

Break down the argument into its components: Nutritionists claim that reducing the price of the Big and Beefy burger, which contains high levels of cholesterol, will negatively impact citizens' health.

- Identify the Underlying Assumption

Consider what must be true for the nutritionists' claim to hold. The assumption is that the price reduction will lead to more people buying and consuming the Big and Beefy burger, which will, in turn, negatively impact health due to the high cholesterol levels.

- Formulate the Assumption

The assumption can be stated as: The promotion will result in increased consumption of the Big and Beefy burger.

Key concepts

Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning is a critical component of GMAT preparation. It involves the ability to analyze arguments, draw connections, and make inferences. When dealing with logical reasoning questions, especially like the argument about Burger Land's price reduction, one must:

• Identify premises and conclusions.
• Understand the relationship between them.
• Evaluate the strength of the argument.

For instance, the nutritionists' argument is constructed on the premise that cheaper burgers will lead to more purchases and thus more health issues. Logical reasoning helps us recognize if this cause-effect relationship is plausible, or if there are gaps in the argument that need probing.

Assumption Identification

Assumption identification is crucial in argument analysis. Assumptions are unstated premises that must be true for the argument to hold. In GMAT questions, identifying these assumptions helps in understanding if the conclusions are justified.

For example, the nutritionists argue that the price reduction of the Big and Beefy burger will lead to negative health effects. The underlying assumption here is that the price cut will increase consumption. This assumption must be true for the nutritionists' conclusion to make sense. Without increased consumption, the health argument falls apart. Becoming adept at pinpointing such assumptions will sharpen your critical thinking and logical reasoning skills.

Argument Analysis

Argument analysis combines both assumption identification and logical reasoning. It's about dissecting an argument to understand its structure and the interplay between its components.

Start with:

• Identifying the main conclusion.
• Listing supporting evidence or premises.
• Recognizing potential assumptions.

In the Burger Land scenario, we break down the nutritionists' argument into clear parts. The main conclusion is the anticipated negative health impact. The premise is the burger's high cholesterol content. By analyzing these components, we can evaluate if the argument is solid or if it contains logical flaws or unsupported assumptions. Effective argument analysis is essential for both tackling GMAT questions and developing critical thinking.

GMAT Preparation

GMAT preparation involves honing various skills like critical thinking, logical reasoning, and assumption identification. To excel, you need:

• Understand the test format.
• Practice regularly with realistic questions.
• Review explanations for both correct and incorrect answers.

Focusing on exercises like the Burger Land problem can be particularly beneficial. They mimic the type of critical thinking and analysis required on the test. Always take time to break down arguments, identify their components, and question underlying assumptions. Consistent practice, coupled with strategic review, will boost your confidence and performance in the critical reasoning section of the GMAT.