Maggie will Either Move into Her Old Bedroom at Her Parents' House

Question: Maggie will either move into her old bedroom at her parents' house to save money or else she will share an apartment with her college roommate. However, she would not do either one unless she had accumulated excessive credit card debt during college. Maggie's parents will allow her to move into her old bedroom at their house if and only if they do not know that she has accumulated excessive credit card debt during college.

If all of the above statements are true, which of the following would allow the conclusion that Maggie will share an apartment with her college roommate only if her parents know that she has accumulated excessive credit card debt during college to be properly drawn?

1. Maggie's college roommate is willing to share an apartment only because Maggie accumulated excessive credit card debt during college.
2. If Maggie shares an apartment with her college roommate, her parents will know that she accumulated excessive credit card debt during college.
3.  If Maggie had not accumulated excessive credit card debt in college, she would neither move into her old bedroom at her parents' house nor share an apartment with her college roommate.
4. If Maggie's parents do not allow her to move into her old bedroom at their house, she will share an apartment with her college roommate.
5. If Maggie's parents allow her to move into her old bedroom at their house, she will do so.

“Maggie will Either Move into Her Old Bedroom at Her Parents' House” – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘ GMAT official Verbal Review’. 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. Critical reasoning in GMAT 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 GMAT critical reasoning question. An assumption is an implied hypothesis. So we are looking for something that is implied in the argument. In case it is wrong or maybe disable the argument. Lets go through the given assumptions that would allow the conclusion that Maggie will share an apartment with her college roommate. Additionally, if her parents know that she has accumulated excessive credit card debt during college to be properly drawn:

1. Incorrect.
   -Option A states that since we already know this from the stimulus, continuing to operate under this presumption prevents us from reaching the necessary conclusion.

2. Incorrect.
   -Option B implies at first sight this would be a contender, but after giving it some more thought, it wasn't an apt one. If Maggie's parents didn't know about her credit card debt, would she still move in with her roommate. This choice doesn't provide a solution.

100. Irrelevant
     -Option C implies that the stimulus plainly demonstrates that Maggie wouldn't have to consider either option in the first place if she hadn't accrued credit card debt.

500. Incorrect.
     -Option D implies that this cannot be our assumption because it is the conclusion we are attempting to prove.

5. Correct.
   -Option E implies that if Maggie's parents are unaware of her significant credit card debt, they will permit her to go into her old bedroom; however, if they are aware of it, she will have to move in with a roommate from college, supporting the conclusion in the question stem. Hence option E is the appropriate answer. 

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