In Neurtai, a Refreshing Cold Drink Called Hezocal is Typically Sold GMAT Critical Reasoning

Question: In Neurtai, a refreshing cold drink called hezocal is typically sold by sidewalk vendors. Since hezocal has psychoactive effects, when it was discovered that, on days when sidewalk vendors‘ hezocal sales were relatively high, the rate at which fresh graffiti was painted onto buildings and other structures was also relatively high, the vendors ceased selling hezocal to teenagers, who are known to create the vast majority of the graffiti in Neurtai. Oddly though, after the vendors ceased selling hezocal to teenagers, the pattern involving the vendors’ hezocal sales and graffiti creation persisted.

Which of the following, if true, best explains why the change made by the vendors did not result in a change in the observed pattern?

(A) In most cases, the consumption of hezocal results in people’s becoming more meditative and introspective.
(B) A program designed to reduce use of psychoactive substances by youth in Neurtai was discontinued when it was found to be counterproductive.
(C) The colder or rainier the weather is in Neurtai, the more likely it is that teenagers will remain indoors and read, exercise, or sleep.
(D) Sales of hezocal were decreasing in Neurtai even before the sidewalk vendors ceased selling hezocal to teenagers.
(E) There are in Neurtai a variety of substances to which teenagers have access that are known to have psychoactive effects.

In Neurtai, a Refreshing Cold Drink Called Hezocal is Typically Sold by Sidewalk Vendors - is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from ‘The Official Guide of GMAT Verbal Review’. GMAT critical reasoning questions is examining how well a candidate can analyze the argument, find its flaws, and develop a plan of action. This is a paradox-type question. A paradox, in GMAT critical reasoning, means the presence of two contradictory pieces of information in an argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.  

Answer: C
Explanation:

Let us check the given options to check which assumption fits the argument the best:

(A) In most cases, the consumption of hezocal results in people’s becoming more meditative and introspective.
-Option A is irrelevant. Here it states about people that became meditative and introspective. This assumption also implies the pattern of sale of hezocal and rate of graffiti, however, both have repeated about high on time.

(B) A program designed to reduce use of psychoactive substances by youth in Neurtai was discontinued when it was found to be counterproductive.
-Option B is incorrect because it is concerned with the repeat pattern. But it is not the major concern.

(C) The colder or rainier the weather is in Neurtai, the more likely it is that teenagers will remain indoors and read, exercise, or sleep.
-Option C states about cold weather, rainy weather, and teenagers remaining indoors. The cold weather, and rainy weather decrease the sale of cold drinks. On the other hand, in weather which is not rainy or cold, the sale of cold drinks increases. The teens will remain out and the rate of graffiti also increases. Hence option C is the correct answer.

(D) Sales of hezocal were decreasing in Neurtai even before the sidewalk vendors ceased selling hezocal to teenagers.
-Option D is not clear about the decrease in sales and the sudden rise in sales when the rate of graffiti is high. Hence option D is incorrect.

(E) There are in Neurtai a variety of substances to which teenagers have access that are known to have psychoactive effects.
-Option E does not state the sales of hezocal. Though it implies teens using other substances and graffiti sales of hezocal. Hence the option is insufficient.

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