GMAT CR DIAGNOSTIC QUIZ – MODULE 2 – NECESSARY VS SUFFICIENT ASSUMPTIONS

Argument:

“CityMart grocery chain plans to increase its organic produce section from 10% to 40% of total produce space. Market research shows that 62% of surveyed shoppers expressed interest in purchasing more organic products. CityMart’s management expects this expansion to increase overall produce sales by at least 25% within six months. The company has budgeted for the higher wholesale costs associated with organic produce and has established relationships with organic suppliers.”

Question: The management’s expectation depends on which of the following assumptions?

Argument:

“Researchers studying sleep quality installed smart lighting systems in office buildings that automatically adjust color temperature throughout the day—using blue-enriched light in the morning and warmer tones in the afternoon. After three months, workers in buildings with smart lighting reported 18% better sleep quality than workers in buildings with standard lighting. The researchers concluded that exposure to dynamically adjusted lighting improves sleep quality by helping to regulate circadian rhythms.”

Question: Which of the following is an assumption on which the researchers’ conclusion depends?

Argument:

“Metropolis City Council is considering a proposal to require all new residential construction to include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Proponents argue that this requirement will accelerate EV adoption in the city. Recent census data shows that 78% of city residents park their vehicles at home overnight. However, only 12% of existing residential properties currently have EV charging infrastructure. Transportation officials predict that making charging convenient will eliminate a major barrier to EV ownership.”

Question: Which of the following, if assumed, would allow the conclusion that the requirement will accelerate EV adoption to be properly drawn?

Argument:

“WebSecure, a cybersecurity firm, analyzes that companies using multi-factor authentication (MFA) experience 85% fewer successful hacking attempts than those using only password protection. Based on this finding, WebSecure recommends that its clients implement MFA for all employees. However, critics note that MFA systems can be expensive to deploy and that employee resistance to additional login steps could reduce productivity. WebSecure maintains that the security benefits clearly justify the implementation costs and any minor productivity impacts.”

Question: WebSecure’s recommendation requires assuming which of the following?

Argument:

“Nutritionist Dr. Chen argues that the recent increase in childhood obesity rates in Riverside County is primarily caused by increased consumption of sugary beverages. She notes that over the past decade, soda and juice consumption among children aged 5-12 has increased by 35%, while childhood obesity rates in the same age group have risen by 28%. Dr. Chen proposes that limiting children’s sugary beverage consumption would significantly reduce obesity rates in this population.”

Question: Which of the following is an assumption required for Dr. Chen’s proposal to be justified?

Argument:

“Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient Valdor civilization developed sophisticated irrigation systems around 2000 BCE. Recently, researchers discovered stone channels, precisely aligned to transport water from mountain springs to agricultural terraces, in three separate Valdor settlements. These channels show evidence of advanced engineering, including gradient calculations and water flow optimization. Historians had previously believed that such irrigation technology did not appear in this region until 1500 BCE. The discovery of these channels proves that the Valdor civilization possessed engineering knowledge far more advanced than previously thought.”

Question: The argument’s conclusion would be properly drawn if which of the following were assumed?

Argument:

“Financial analyst Maria Torres argues that Quantum Pharmaceuticals’ stock is currently undervalued and represents a strong investment opportunity. Torres notes that Quantum’s newest drug, NeuralFix, recently received regulatory approval and addresses a market of 15 million potential patients. The company projects $800 million in annual revenue from NeuralFix within three years. However, Quantum’s current market capitalization reflects only modest revenue expectations. Torres concludes that investors who purchase Quantum stock now will likely see substantial returns.”

Question: Torres’s conclusion depends on assuming that

Argument:

“Urban planners in Centerville propose converting a six-lane downtown highway into a four-lane boulevard with bike lanes, green space, and pedestrian walkways. Traffic engineers warn that reducing lanes will increase congestion during peak hours. However, planners point to case studies from three other cities where similar conversions initially caused congestion but ultimately reduced total traffic volume by 15-20% within two years. The planners argue that the conversion will likewise reduce traffic in Centerville by encouraging residents to choose alternative transportation methods, thereby actually improving traffic flow despite fewer lanes.”

Question: Which of the following, if assumed, allows the planners’ conclusion to be properly drawn?

Argument:

“Economist Dr. Rajesh Patel argues that implementing a four-day workweek would increase overall economic productivity. He cites a recent pilot program in which 35 companies reduced employee work hours to 32 hours per week while maintaining full salaries. These companies reported that employee productivity per hour increased by an average of 18%, resulting in nearly equivalent total output despite 20% fewer work hours. Dr. Patel acknowledges that some industries, particularly healthcare and hospitality, might face implementation challenges. Nevertheless, he contends that widespread adoption of a four-day workweek would benefit the broader economy.”

Question: The argument requires the assumption that

Argument:

“Media analyst Jensen Foster predicts that traditional cable television will become obsolete within the next decade. Foster observes that streaming services have captured 58% of the video entertainment market, up from 23% five years ago. Meanwhile, cable subscriptions have declined by 28% during the same period. Cable providers primarily offer bundled content packages, while streaming services allow viewers to select specific shows and channels. Foster argues that younger consumers, who have grown up with on-demand content, will never adopt cable television as they reach prime earning years. As this demographic shift continues, cable providers will lose their remaining customer base, leading to the industry’s collapse.”

Question: Which of the following, if assumed, would allow Foster’s prediction to be properly drawn?