Q2

[mcrittell]

Having trouble paring it down between D and E, especially with the wording "at least."

[legalrabbithole]

Here's how I did Q2:

First, the Q says that "everyone passed" so the only grade options are:

A B C D

Second, the Q says that G is higher than I and R. There's roughly two options. (edit: this window won't let me diagram properly).

1.
A= G
B= P, I/R
C= I/R
D= I/R

2.
A=
B= G
C= P, I/R
D= I/R

If you only diagrammed the 2nd option, then I can see why you had a tough time eliminating answer choice (e) since C+D are obviously filled by P, I and R. But, if you also diagrammed the 1st option, you would be able to see that C must be filled no matter what and that there is a possibility that D may NOT be filled, like so:

A=G, E
B=P, I/R, H
C= I/R
D=

I threw in E and H to fill it out, but they're unimportant in this problem. Since the answer choice MUST BE TRUE, you're looking for a irrefutable fact. In both options, B+C MUST be filled, but D may or may not be filled.

HTH

[maryadkins]

Thanks for that explanation. Another way of thinking about this is as follows. We know we have 4 grade choices in this problem, since John has to pass: A, B, C, and D. We are told he does better in G than in I or R, and we already know I and R are different grades. That gives us 3 different grades for G, I, and R:

G > I/R > I/R.

Plus, wherever we put G, we have to remember to put P one grade lower.

We now have 3 different grades we have to place on 4 possible grades, and a P that is attached to the G. Once you start to work out the possibilities, you see that no matter how you place them, at least one B and one C have to be filled. John can be spared a D if the set up is, for example:

G: A! Woohoo.
P: B. Still good.
I: B. Not bad.
R: C. Come on, John, you can do better.

And H and E are floaters.

Let me know if you still have questions.