GMAT Focus EditionVerbal ReasoningMedium
A new fitness tracker claims to accurately measure calorie expenditure during exercise. However, a review in a consumer magazine states that the tracker's readings can vary by as much as 20% compared to laboratory-grade equipment. The magazine concludes that the tracker is unreliable for serious athletes. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously undermine the magazine's conclusion?
- ALaboratory-grade equipment is significantly more expensive and less portable than the fitness tracker.
- BThe fitness tracker also provides accurate heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking functionality.
- CFor serious athletes, consistently tracking trends in calorie expenditure is more important than precise daily figures.
- DThe 20% variation is within the acceptable margin of error for many commercially available fitness devices.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. For serious athletes, consistently tracking trends in calorie expenditure is more important than precise daily figures.
The magazine's conclusion hinges on the idea that 20% variation makes the tracker unreliable for serious athletes. If serious athletes prioritize trends over precise daily figures, then the 20% variation would not make the device unreliable for their specific needs, thus undermining the conclusion.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This explains why the tracker is a practical alternative, but doesn't undermine the claim that its inaccuracy makes it unreliable for *serious athletes* who might prioritize precision.
- B. This highlights other features of the tracker, but doesn't address the specific claim about its unreliability for calorie expenditure for serious athletes.
- D. While it might be acceptable for *many* devices, it doesn't necessarily mean it's acceptable for *serious athletes* unless their specific needs are defined otherwise.
Re-evaluating 'Unreliable'
To re-evaluate a claim of 'unreliable', consider if the definition of reliability or the user's actual needs are being misapplied or misunderstood.
- Reliability is context-dependent.
- Different users have different needs.
- Functionality beyond the criticized aspect can be important.
Memory trick: To make a conclusion falter, find its hidden assumption, or its context alter!