GMAT/留學申請專業顧問 Donz 之資訊交流園地

做 Weaken 題目和 Support 有時會不一樣的地方的是，由於是要給 statement 一個扣分作用，就必須確認什麼是"既定事實"。雖然有些題目，因果是無法完全掌握，但多數題目因果的方向都很明確。通常因果關係，會有一邊是固定的，也就是我們說的既定事實。我們這裡要先講的，就是 GMAT 常出現的題型: 當作者看到一件事情、一樣物品，便會推導造成這樣結果的因素，這就是所謂的找原因。

For example:
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Guidebook writer: I have visited hotels throughout the country and have noticed that in those
built before 1930 the quality of the original carpentry work is generally superior to that in
hotels built afterward. Clearly carpenters working on hotels before 1930 typically worked
with more skill, care, and effort than carpenters who have worked on hotels built
subsequently.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the guidebook writer’s argument?

(A) The quality of original carpentry in hotels is generally far superior to the quality of original carpentry in other structures, such as houses and stores.
(B) Hotels built since 1930 can generally accommodate more guests than those built before 1930.
(C) The materials available to carpenters working before 1930 were not significantly different in quality from the materials available to carpenters working after 1930.
(D) The better the quality of original carpentry in a building, the less likely that building is to fall into disuse and be demolished.
(E) The average length of apprenticeship for carpenters has declined significantly since 1930.

Ans: D

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此題作者看到 1930 以前旅館的木工技術比 1930 之後的旅館還要來的好，所以認為 1930 之前的木匠技術更好，做工更細心。

請注意，因果關係，並不是以文章先後順序來判斷。此題雖然結論是木匠技術更好，但這是屬於作者"推論"的原因，並非確定的事實。反倒是 1930 前旅館的木工技術更好，是作者看到的既定事實結果。所以要 Weaken，只要找出可能的他因就好。

答案 (D): 如果木工品質越好，越不容易遭到濫用或破壞。此答案雖然沒有出現任何關於 "1930" or "木工" 的字眼，但是他暗喻了，會看到這種現象的原因，有可能是因為品質不好的木工，已經被破壞殆盡，所以才會看到都是好的保留下來。 既然有了其他可能原因，原本作者推論的原因，當然就被 weaken 囉。

所以在 Weaken 題目當作，看到結果，找原因時，答案選項通常都是找其他原因。