Using Oil-Based Paints to Paint Walls or Furniture Requires the Use of Turpentine and Each Coat Takes a Long Time to Dry.

Question: Using oil-based paints to paint walls or furniture requires the use of turpentine and each coat takes a long time to dry. Water-based paints dry quickly and can be cleaned from the hands or clothing with water alone. It can be concluded that water based paints are always better to use than oil-based paints.

Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the argument's conclusion?

(A) Oil-based paints release harmful fumes that are not released by water-based paints.
(B) Companies producing oil-based paints outnumber those that produce water paint by 2 to 1.
(C) Painting and decorating without professional assistance has become very popular.
(D) Walls should always be smooth and clean before fresh paint is applied.
(E) The components used in water-based paints cannot withstand high levels of moisture or direct sunlight.

Using oil-based paints to paint walls or furniture requires the use of turpentine and each coat takes a long time to dry. – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘GMAT Official Guide 2022 Bundle’. This is a Conclusion Weakening question. In this particular topic, candidates need to choose the option that best suits the passage. 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
Explanation:

This is a weakening the conclusion type of question. The candidates need to first break down the argument.
Let us break the passage provided and see which option suits the best.
The first two sentences from the passage are premises which provide factual data.
The last sentence uses a conclusion word (concluded). Hence, we can consider this as the conclusion:

Let us take the premises now:

Premise A: oil-based paints take long to dry and require turpentine
Premise B: water-based paints dry quickly and can be cleaned with water
From the above two premise, we get:
Conclusion: water-based paints are always better to use than oil-based paints

From tis, we can assume that oil-based paints have no significant advantages over water-based paints.
Though this fact is not stated, the conclusion means that this is true.
Now, we need to find the option that is weakening the conclusion.

(A) Oil-based paints release harmful fumes that are not released by water-based paints.
Incorrect
This answer choice states that oil-based paints give off harmful fumes. This gives us another reason to believe that water-based paints are always better. Hence, this is strengthening the conclusion and not weakening it. Hence, this is incorrect.

(B) Companies producing oil-based paints outnumber those that produce water paint by 2 to 1.
Incorrect.
This answer choice is interesting. This might confuse the students since it neither weakens nor strengthens the author's conclusion. The number of companies that produce type of paint is irrelevant. More companies are producing oil-based paints and this does not mean they are better. We need to find a statement that undermines the conclusion that water-based paints are always better to use. Since this statement does not do that, it is incorrect.

(C) Painting and decorating without professional assistance has become very popular.
Incorrect.
Knowing the popularity of do-it-yourself decoration does not help us choose between oil- and water-based paints. This option is totally out of scope and does not weaken the conclusion. Hence, this is also incorrect.

(D) Walls should always be smooth and clean before fresh paint is applied.
Incorrect.
Gaining knowledge about the method of painting a wall does not help us choose between oil- and water-based paints. Since this does not help in determining the conclusion, this is incorrect.

(E) The components used in water-based paints cannot withstand high levels of moisture or direct sunlight.
Correct.
This answer choice weakens the conclusion directly by providing two negative characteristics of water-based paints. The conclusion states that water-based paints are always better to use, by bringing forward a situation where they do not perform well (moisture, direct sunlight). Since it weakens the conclusion, we can state that this is correct.

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