Question: Recent evidence appears to contradict earlier findings that suggested that those who are physically fit cope better with stressful real-life events. Of a group of healthy women, those randomly assigned to a ten-week program of aerobic exercises performed no better in laboratory tests simulating stressful situations than did the subgroup assigned to a program without exercise.

Which of the following, if true, provides evidence for determining whether physical fitness makes one react better to stress?

(A) Superior reaction to laboratory stress situations was found to be more prevalent among women than among men.
(B) Healthy men, after training six months in weight lifting, encountered fewer potentially stressful situations in the subsequent six months.
(C) Subjects following a regimen during which they perfected their skills in a variety of relaxation techniques found that their lives seemed calmer after they began the regimen.
(D) College students with previous high levels of stressful life events showed a markedly reduced reaction to such events after training in aerobics for six months.
(E) Subjects with a high level of self-esteem more often engaged in physical-fitness regimens than did a control group of subjects with average levels of self-esteem.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation:

In the critical reasoning part of the GMAT, you will be tested on your ability to analyze and think critically. To answer clearly, a person needs to have a lot of brain power.

To make a choice, each option needs to be carefully examined. Only one of the five choices given will be right. To make the best choice, the candidate must think about many things.

Given that, current research appears to refute past studies that claimed physically fit people were better able to handle stressful real-life situations. In lab experiments imitating stressful situations, a group of healthy women who were randomly assigned to a ten-week program of aerobic exercises didn't fare any better than the segment randomized to a program without exercise.

Pre-thinking:

To choose an answer that "provides evidence for evaluating if physical fitness makes one react to stress better," the question stem instructs us to do so. Thus, the following qualities would probably be present in the appropriate response choice:

1) Two scenarios—one with stress and the other without.
2) A collection of subjects, both physically fit and unfit.
3) The subjects' responses to each scenario must unmistakably indicate the answer to the question.

Let's approach the answer selections with this in mind.

A: Incorrect

It is an incorrect choice. This in no way affects physical fitness, hence condition (2) above is not met. The disparities in how men and women respond to stress are not a worry. This choice is eliminated.

B: Incorrect

It is an incorrect answer. According to this answer, the individuals came across fewer stressful situations. Only when we have both can we determine how "fitness" affects "reaction to stress"; the other choice does not provide any information regarding the participants' response to stress. (3) cannot be satisfied.

C: Incorrect

It is an incorrect answer. The "response to stress" can be changed with this choice (potentially, if we interpret the phrase "seemed calmer" as "better reacting to stress"). Yet, "relaxation techniques" rather than "physical fitness" are the focus of the program driving the improvement. (2) cannot be satisfied.

D: Correct

It is the correct choice.
Correct response: All three of the aforementioned criteria are met.
(1) Stressful and non-stressful situations, including "prior high levels of stressful life events... such occurrences following training."
(2) Participants with and without physical fitness - "after training in aerobics"; varied responses from the same group of subjects strengthen the argument.
(3) Variations in reactions: "showed a considerably diminished reaction"

E: Incorrect

It is the wrong choice. This does not include any data on how the respondents responded to stressful situations, so it cannot be used as support for the claim. (3) cannot be satisfied.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world. What does the sp” – is a GMAT Critical question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Suggested GMAT Critical Reasoning Samples

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