HOT Competition: Computer “Viruses” are Known to Everyone GMAT Critical Reasoning

Question: Computer “viruses” are known to everyone and their ability to spread is also well known. But it is equally helpful to portray the biosphere of real, living microbes as a world wide web of informational exchange. Microbes exchange information with each other and their environment, with DNA serving as the packets of data going every which way. Microbes differ from computer viruses because they not only spread but evolve, and do so at a faster pace than their hosts. Microbes are in fact well-designed to exploit this difference to their advantage in the war that occasionally erupts between them and other species- a war we see as disease and death.

The world wide web of microbes as presented in the argument rests most accurately on which of the following assumptions?

1. The capacity of computer viruses to transfer information to other computers.
2. Living viruses can integrate their own DNA into their host’s genetic material, and this can be copied and passed on. 
3. Many segments of human DNA originated from encounters with viruses which ‘downloaded’ their information into human cells.
4. The sheer number of microbes, their ability to exchange information, and the speed of transmission are akin to the world wide web.
5. The microbe’s capacity to transfer information to other organisms. 

Computer Viruses are Known to Everyone and their Ability to Spread is also Well Known - is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from ‘The PowerScore Critical Reasoning Bible 2021’. GMAT critical reasoning questions is examining how well a candidate can analyze the argument, find its flaws, and develop a plan of action. In GMAT critical reasoning 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. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions. 

Answer: E
Explanation: GMAT critical reasoning questions is examining how well a candidate can analyze the argument, find its flaws, and develop a plan of action. In GMAT critical reasoning an assumption is an implied hypothesis. Let’s look at all the available options and choose the one that fits the best.

Option A: Incorrect.
-Option A talks about the capacity of computer viruses to transfer information to other computers. In the argument above, the ability to transfer data to other computers by computer viruses is nowhere mentioned. The argument is about microbes and how they exchange information with each other. Since the statement about computer viruses is irrelevant, Option A is incorrect.

Option B: Incorrect.
-According to option B, the living viruses can mix up their own DNA into the host’s genes, and further, this can be copied and passed on. As per the argument above, the microbes are not integrating into the host’s genetic material, they are exchanging. In fact, it is also mentioned that microbes evolve at a faster rate than their host. So, Option B is incorrect.

Option C: Incorrect.
-Option C states that there are many segments of human DNA that originated from encounters with various viruses and these viruses downloaded their information into the cells of the human body. Again, this statement is irrelevant to the argument as we are not discussing how human DNA originated. So, Option C is incorrect.

Option D: Incorrect.
-Option D states that a number of microbes, their power to exchange information, and the speed with which they transmit are just like the world wide web. The statement is irrelevant to the argument as we are not discussing the number of microbes and comparing microbes to the world wide web, we are talking about the ability of microbes to exchange information. So, Option D is incorrect.

Option E: Correct.
-Option E talks about the capacity of microbes to transfer information to other organisms. If this statement is true, then we can portray the world of real, living microbes as a worldwide web of informational exchange. So, Option E is correct.

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