Although the First Humans Came to Australia 56,000 Years Ago

Question: Although the first humans came to Australia 56,000 years ago and undoubtedly brought new diseases with them, human-borne diseases probably did not cause the mass extinction of large land animals and birds that took place over the following I0,000 years. After all, more than 55 different species disappeared at about the same time, and no one disease, however virulent, could be fatal to animals across that many different species.

Which one of the following arguments exhibits flawed reasoning that is most parallel to that in the argument above? 

1. Even though high-interest rates can lead to an economic downturn, high-interest rates probably did not cause the current economic downturn. It is true that rates have been on the rise, but high-interest rates are not always economically harmful.
2. Even though I can fix some things and you can fix some things, the two of us will be unable to repair our apartment without outside help. The apartment has both a broken window and a broken bedroom door, and neither of us is able to fix both doors and windows.
3. Even though Lena, Jen, and Mark would like to go out to dinner together after the movie tonight, they will probably go straight home after the show. Of the five restaurants that are in the immediate vicinity of the theater, there is not a single one that all three of them like.
4. Even though this painting is highly regarded by critics, it cannot legitimately be deemed great art. Most art that was produced in the last hundred years is not great art, and this painting, beautiful though it is, was probably painted only 40 years ago.
5. Even though the influenza vaccine does not always prevent influenza, it sometimes reduces the severity of its symptoms. Therefore it is incorrect to say that some people who receive the vaccine derive no benefit from it.

“Although the First Humans Came to Australia 56,000 Years Ago” – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review’. This weakens the argument type of the GMAT CR question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: B 
Explanation: This is a GMAT critical reasoning question. An assumption is an implied hypothesis. So we are looking for something that is implied in the argument. In case it is wrong or maybe disable the argument.
Let us analyze the assumptions to get the correct one that fits the argument.

1. Even though high-interest rates can lead to an economic downturn, high-interest rates probably did not cause the current economic downturn. It is true that rates have been on the rise, but high-interest rates are not always economically harmful.
   -Option A states that we need more data before reproaching actual interest rates. Hence this is inappropriate.
2. Even though I can fix some things and you can fix some things, the two of us will be unable to repair our apartment without outside help. The apartment has both a broken window and a broken bedroom door, and neither of us is able to fix both doors and windows.
   -Here option B makes the same fallacy in a distinct form. The error was supposing that because no single disease could do it. Then later we see that all diseases combined also couldn’t do it. This assumption neither person alone can fix the house. Hence more people were combined to fix the house. Hence option B is the correct answer. 
3. Even though Lena, Jen, and Mark would like to go out to dinner together after the movie tonight, they will probably go straight home after the show. Of the five restaurants that are in the immediate vicinity of the theater, there is not a single one that all three of them like.
   -Option C is incorrect because no single restaurant can satisfy all the people in the argument. All three of them cannot eat together at separate restaurants. So this is incorrect.
4. Even though this painting is highly regarded by critics, it cannot legitimately be deemed great art. Most art that was produced in the last hundred years is not great art, and this painting, beautiful though it is, was probably painted only 40 years ago.
   -Option D is not correct as most recent art is not great. So, some recent art can be still great. This made the assumption a part of the whole flaw.
5. Even though the influenza vaccine does not always prevent influenza, it sometimes reduces the severity of its symptoms. Therefore it is incorrect to say that some people who receive the vaccine derive no benefit from it.
   -Option E is a good argument. It implies that the influenza vaccine sometimes reduces symptoms even when it doesn’t prevent the disease. But this alone is insufficient.

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