In an Experiment, Some Volunteers were Assigned to Take Aerobics Classes and Some Others to Take Weight-Training Classes.

Topic: In an experiment, some volunteers were assigned to take aerobics classes and some others to take weight-training classes. After three months, each performed arduous mathematical calculation. just after the challenge, the measurable stress symptoms of volunteers in the aerobics classes were less than those of the volunteers in weight training classes . This provides good evidence that aerobics exercise helps the body handle psychological stress.

Which of the following is an assumption the argument requires?

(A) Three months is enough time for the body to fully benefit from aerobic exercise.
(B) The volunteers who were assigned to the aerobics classes did not also lift weights outside the classes.
(C) On average, the volunteers who were assigned to the aerobics classes got more exercise in the months in which they took those classes than they had been getting before beginning the experiment.
(D) On average, the volunteers assigned to the aerobics classes found it less difficult to perform the mathematical calculation than did the volunteers assigned to the weight training classes.
(E) On average, the volunteers assigned to the aerobic classes got a greater amount of aerobic exercise overall during the experiment, including any exercise than did volunteers assigned to the weight training classes.

In an Experiment, Some Volunteers were Assigned to Take Aerobics Classes and Some Others to Take Weight-Training Classes. – is a topic in GMAT Critical Reasoning. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘ GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review, 2022’. This is a version of the “assumption the argument” question. The passage does not connect the evidence to the conclusion. We need to find out which of the options are true and can be assumed from 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: (E) 
Solution and Explanation:

We will go through all the options to determine the correct one.

Option A: Three months is enough time for the body to fully benefit from aerobic exercise.
- This option states that three months is enough time for the body to fully benefit from aerobic exercise. We do not have any such information in the passage regarding the three months time frame. Hence, we can consider this option as not correct.

Option B: The volunteers who were assigned to the aerobics classes did not also lift weights outside the classes.
- It says apart from the aerobics, the subjects were not lifting weights. This is an assumption but it doesn't change anything. The reason is because lifting weights is athletic not aerobic. So, even if they did or did not lift weights, it wouldn't affect the conclusion that aerobics helped the group. From this, we can come to a conclusion that this argument does not require this assumption.

Option C: On average, the volunteers who were assigned to the aerobics classes got more exercise in the months in which they took those classes than they had been getting before beginning the experiment.
- This one seems to be correct from the beginning, but it totally wrong when comes to conclusion.

Option D: On average, the volunteers assigned to the aerobics classes found it less difficult to perform the mathematical calculation than did the volunteers assigned to the weight training classes.
- This option weakens the conclusion and is the assumption that is definitely not required because it would make the conclusion false. The passage states that after three months the volunteers performed mathematical calculations. We cannot assume that if it was difficult for them or not. Hence, the statement is not correct.

Option E: On average, the volunteers assigned to the aerobic classes got a greater amount of aerobic exercise overall during the experiment, including any exercise than did volunteers assigned to the weight training classes.
- This option states that the aerobic group got more aerobic training overall than the weight training group. This option somehow at first contradicts the reasoning by mentioning other exercises but this option makes the conclusion happen. Hence, we can certainly say that E is the correct option.

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