travel agents are market intermediaries gmat

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• A Travel agents routinely use the internet and other new information technologies as sources for the information they obtain for their customers. 分析该选项
• B The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasing faster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it 分析该选项
• C Many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels without consulting a travel agent . 分析该选项
• D The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to new information technologies 分析该选项
• E The Internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of the population 分析该选项

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Travel agents are market intermediaries who make their living by gathering, organizing,and dispensing information about travel-related services that is not readily available to most consumers through new nformation technologies, such as the internet much of this information can now be made directly available to consumers demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced. Which of the following ,if true , most seriously weakens the argument ?

• A Travel agents routinely use the internet and other new information technologies as sources for the information they obtain for their customers.
• B The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasing faster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it
• C Many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels without consulting a travel agent .
• D The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to new information technologies
• E The internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of the population

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

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GMAT Test Prep: CR-84201509 GMAT Critical Reasoning

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Test: Weaken Argument - GMAT MCQ

10 questions mcq test - test: weaken argument, travel agents are market intermediaries who make their living by gathering, organizing, and dispensing information about travel-related services that is not readily available to most consumers. through new information technologies, such as the internet much of this information can now be made directly available to consumers. therefore, as more consumers gain access to these new technologies, demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced. which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument.

Travel agents routinely use the internet and other new information technologies as sources for the information they obtain for their customers.

The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasingfaster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it

Many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels without consulting a travel agent.

The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to newinformation technologies

The internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of thepopulation

Argument: As more consumers gain access to new technologies like the internet, demand for travel agents' services will be drastically reduced.

(A) Travel agents routinely use the internet and other new information technologies as sources for the information they obtain for their customers.

This answer choice supports the argument by acknowledging that travel agents already use the internet and new technologies. However, it does not weaken the argument because it doesn't address the issue of consumers having direct access to the information that was previously only available through travel agents.

(B) The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasing faster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it.

This answer choice weakens the argument by suggesting that even though consumers have access to a vast amount of information, they may not have the ability or capacity to process and utilize it effectively. This implies that they may still rely on travel agents to gather and organize the information on their behalf.

(C) Many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels, without consulting a travel agent.

This answer choice doesn't directly address the impact of new technologies on travel agents. While it suggests that some people already use travel-related services without consulting travel agents, it doesn't provide any information about the future trend or the impact of new technologies on demand for travel agents' services.

(D) The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to new information technologies.

This answer choice strengthens the argument by suggesting that the current users of travel agents' services are likely to gain access to new technologies. However, it doesn't weaken the argument because it doesn't address whether these individuals would continue to rely on travel agents despite having access to new technologies.

(E) The internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of the population.

This answer choice weakens the argument by indicating that only a small proportion of the population currently uses the internet and new technologies. If the majority of the population doesn't have access to these technologies, then the impact on demand for travel agents' services may not be as significant as the argument assumes.

Therefore, the answer choice that most seriously weakens the argument is (B) - The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasing faster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it.

Increased use of incineration is sometimes advocated as a safe way to dispose of chemical waste. But opponents of incineration point to the 40 incidents involving unexpected releases of dangerous chemical agents that were reported just last year at two existing incinerators commissioned to destroy a quantity of chemical waste material. Since designs for proposed new incinerators include no additional means of preventing such releases, leaks will only become more prevalent if use of incineration increases. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

At the two incinerators at which leaks were reported, staff had had only cursory training on the proper procedures for incinerating chemical waste.

Other means of disposing of chemical waste, such as chemical neutralization processes, have not been proven safer than incineration.

The capacity of existing incinerators is sufficient to allow for increased incineration of chemical waste without any need for new incinerators.

The frequency of reports of unexpected releases of chemical agents at newly built incinerators is about the same as the frequency at older incinerators.

ln only three of the reported incidents of unexpected chemical leaks did the releases extend outside the property on which the incinerators were located.

The argument is based on the premise that opponents of incineration claim it is unsafe due to incidents involving unexpected releases of dangerous chemical agents at existing incinerators. The conclusion is that if the use of incineration increases without additional preventive measures, such releases will become more prevalent. We are asked to find the option that weakens this argument the most.

Let's evaluate each answer choice:

(A) At the two incinerators at which leaks were reported, staff had had only cursory training on the proper procedures for incinerating chemical waste. This option weakens the argument by suggesting that the leaks were caused by a lack of proper training rather than inherent flaws in the incineration process. If the staff had received adequate training, the incidents of leaks might have been prevented, indicating that incineration itself may not be the problem. Therefore, this answer choice weakens the argument.

(B) Other means of disposing of chemical waste, such as chemical neutralization processes, have not been proven safer than incineration. This option does not directly address the argument's concern about the prevalence of leaks or the lack of preventive measures in new incinerators. It introduces a comparison with chemical neutralization processes, but the argument focuses on incineration. Therefore, this option does not significantly weaken the argument.

(C) The capacity of existing incinerators is sufficient to allow for increased incineration of chemical waste without any need for new incinerators. This option is irrelevant to the argument's concern about the safety of incineration and the potential increase in leaks. It only addresses the capacity of existing incinerators, without providing any information about safety measures or preventive measures in new incinerators.

(D) The frequency of reports of unexpected releases of chemical agents at newly built incinerators is about the same as the frequency at older incinerators. This option weakens the argument by suggesting that the frequency of incidents at newly built incinerators is comparable to that of older incinerators. If the frequency is the same, it implies that there is no significant increase in incidents despite the lack of additional preventive measures in the new incinerators. Therefore, this option weakens the argument.

(E) In only three of the reported incidents of unexpected chemical leaks did the releases extend outside the property on which the incinerators were located. This option does not directly address the argument's concern about the prevalence of leaks or the lack of preventive measures in new incinerators. It focuses on the extent of the releases and whether they extended outside the property. However, this information does not provide a strong weakening effect on the argument.

In summary, options (A) and (D) both weaken the argument, but option (A) weakens it more directly by suggesting that the leaks were caused by inadequate training rather than inherent flaws in incineration. Therefore, the correct answer is (A) .

Observatory director: Some say that funding the megatelescope will benefit only the astronomers who will work with it. This dangerous point of view, applied to the work of Maxwell, Newton, or Einstein, would have stifled their research and deprived the world of beneficial applications, such as the development of radio, that followed from that research. If the statements above are put forward as an argument in favor of development of the megatelescope, which one of the following is the strongest criticism of that argument?

It appeals to the authority of experts who cannot have known all the issues involved in construction of the megatelescope.

It does not identify those opposed to development of the megatelescope.

It launches a personal attack on opponents of the megatelescope by accusing them of having a dangerous point of view.

It does not distinguish between the economic and the intellectual sense of “benefit.”

It does not show that the proposed megatelescope research is worthy of comparison with that of eminent scientists in its potential for applications.

Let's analyze each option:

(A) It appeals to the authority of experts who cannot have known all the issues involved in the construction of the megatelescope. This criticism suggests that the argument relies too heavily on the expertise of astronomers without considering the potential limitations or drawbacks of building the megatelescope. However, the argument itself doesn't explicitly appeal to the authority of experts, so this criticism is not the strongest.

(B) It does not identify those opposed to the development of the megatelescope. This criticism points out that the argument fails to acknowledge the existence or perspectives of individuals who are against the development of the megatelescope. While it is a valid point, it is not the strongest criticism of the argument.

(C) It launches a personal attack on opponents of the megatelescope by accusing them of having a dangerous point of view. This criticism argues that the argument resorts to personal attacks rather than engaging with the opposing viewpoints in a constructive manner. However, there is no personal attack in the argument, so this criticism is not the strongest.

(D) It does not distinguish between the economic and the intellectual sense of "benefit." This criticism suggests that the argument fails to clarify whether the benefit mentioned refers to economic gains or intellectual advancement. While it highlights a potential ambiguity, it does not directly undermine the argument's reasoning.

(E) It does not show that the proposed megatelescope research is worthy of comparison with that of eminent scientists in its potential for applications. This criticism is the strongest because it challenges the core of the argument's reasoning. The argument draws a parallel between the potential benefits of the megatelescope and the groundbreaking research of Maxwell, Newton, and Einstein. However, it fails to establish that the megatelescope research possesses a similar level of potential for applications. Therefore, option (E) is the strongest criticism.

In summary, the strongest criticism of the argument is (E) It does not show that the proposed megatelescope research is worthy of comparison with that of eminent scientists in its potential for applications.

Hopland, one of the world’s major producers of rose plants, exported about five tons of roses last year. In the year prior to last year, Hopland exported just 2.75 tons of roses. Therefore, it can be concluded that the demand for roses is on an upward trend and should be expected to keep increasing in the future.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion drawn above?

The demand in the international market for tulips produced in Hopland has not increased in the last two years.

No new export markets have opened up in the last few years for the export of Hopland roses.

It is generally very difficult to predict the actual demand of roses in the international market in a given year.

For the first time in nearly a decade, Roseland, the largest exporter of roses in the international market, suffered an unexpected infestation on its rose plantations last year.

In a recently published paper on the cosmetic benefits of flowers, scientists have claimed that jasmine flowers have significantly more cosmetic benefits than roses.

The argument states that the increase in rose exports from 2.75 tons to 5 tons in one year indicates an upward trend in demand for roses. The question asks you to find the answer choice that undermines this conclusion the most. Let's evaluate each option:

(A) The demand in the international market for tulips produced in Hopland has not increased in the last two years. This statement is about the demand for tulips, not roses. It does not directly affect the conclusion about the demand for roses. This answer choice can be eliminated.

(B) No new export markets have opened up in the last few years for the export of Hopland roses. This statement suggests that there have been no new opportunities for exporting Hopland roses to new markets. However, it does not directly impact the conclusion that the demand for roses is increasing. This answer choice is not the most relevant to the conclusion and can be eliminated.

(C) It is generally very difficult to predict the actual demand for roses in the international market in a given year. This statement acknowledges the difficulty in predicting the demand for roses accurately. However, it does not specifically undermine the conclusion that the demand for roses is increasing. This answer choice can be eliminated.

(D) For the first time in nearly a decade, Roseland, the largest exporter of roses in the international market, suffered an unexpected infestation on its rose plantations last year. This statement introduces a significant event - an unexpected infestation - that affected the largest exporter of roses. This event is likely to have caused a decrease in the production or supply of roses from Roseland, which could have led to an increase in demand for roses from Hopland. Therefore, this answer choice undermines the conclusion that the increase in exports from Hopland indicates an upward trend in demand for roses. It weakens the argument the most and is the correct answer.

(E) In a recently published paper on the cosmetic benefits of flowers, scientists have claimed that jasmine flowers have significantly more cosmetic benefits than roses. This statement introduces information about the cosmetic benefits of flowers but does not directly address the demand for roses. It does not undermine the conclusion that the demand for roses is increasing. This answer choice can be eliminated.

In summary, answer choice (D) weakens the argument the most by providing an alternative explanation for the increase in rose exports from Hopland.

Nutritionist: Obesity is becoming a very serious problem in this country, and we must actively pursue a means of combating it. I have recently conducted a 12-week weight loss study to see which is the best method for obese adults to lose weight. My study shows that the consumption of a healthy, balanced diet and the incorporation of exercise were highly successful. All patients who participated in my study lost weight by eating the recommended diet and by adding a little exercise each day.

Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously undermines the statement above?

The nutritionist's income is subsidized by a government agency committed to encouraging people to lose weight by adding daily exercise.

All of the patients had a very similar physical makeup and metabolic rate, two significant factors that affect the ability to lose weight.

The nutritionist has been unable to come to an agreement with a colleague on what constitutes a healthy diet.

All of the nutritionist's patients incorporated exactly the same form of exercise to their daily routine.

There were only eighty patients who participated in the nutritionist's weight loss study.

Let's analyze the options and determine which one most seriously undermines the statement made by the nutritionist.

(A) The fact that the nutritionist's income is subsidized by a government agency committed to encouraging people to lose weight by adding daily exercise does not necessarily undermine the statement. It might indicate a potential bias, but it doesn't directly invalidate the findings of the study.

(B) This option indicates that all the patients had a very similar physical makeup and metabolic rate, two significant factors that affect the ability to lose weight. If this is true, it undermines the generalizability of the study's results. The effectiveness of the recommended diet and exercise approach might be limited to individuals with similar physical characteristics, and it might not apply to a broader population.

(C) The nutritionist's inability to come to an agreement with a colleague on what constitutes a healthy diet is not directly related to the effectiveness of the study's results. It might raise questions about the nutritionist's expertise or professional relationships but does not necessarily undermine the findings.

(D) If all of the nutritionist's patients incorporated exactly the same form of exercise to their daily routine, it does not directly undermine the effectiveness of the recommended diet and exercise approach. It might limit the study's exploration of different exercise methods, but it does not invalidate the positive outcomes observed.

(E) The fact that there were only eighty patients who participated in the nutritionist's weight loss study might raise concerns about the sample size and statistical significance. However, it does not directly undermine the statement itself.

Based on the above analysis, option (B) is the most serious undermining factor. It suggests that the results of the study might not be generalizable to individuals with different physical makeup and metabolic rates. Therefore, (B) is the correct answer choice.

Driving excessively fast has been demonstrated to decrease the number of miles one can drive per gallon of fuel. Gary has recently been experiencing a decrease in mileage per gallon of fuel while driving his car. This clearly proves that Gary has been driving excessively fast lately.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion about Gary’s driving?

Recently Gary’s speedometer has been indicating the speed of his car as lower than the car’s actual speed.

Recently Gary has been driving more miles per day on average than before he began experiencing a decrease in fuel mileage.

Other tests have shown that a car’s speed affects fuel mileage more than any other single factor.

Before Gary began driving excessively fast his speedometer over-represented his car’s actual speed.

Recently the tires on Gary’s car have been losing air pressure, and low tire air pressure is known to lower fuel mileage.

The argument relies on the unstated assumption that no factor other than Gary’s driving speed might be responsible for the recent decrease in his fuel mileage; in other words, no other circumstances that might affect fuel mileage have changed recently. One effective way to weaken the argument would be to refute this assumption. Choice (E) accomplishes this by providing a convincing alternative explanation for the decrease.

Bayside Aquarium plans to capture a great white shark and to display it at the aquarium, in the hope that doing so will help raise public awareness that this species of shark is in danger of extinction. But few such sharks have ever survived in captivity for more than one month. In all likelihood, then, this plan would amount to a waste of the aquarium’s financial resources, which would be better directed toward other efforts to preserve the great white shark.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

Bayside Aquarium’s shark habitat would resemble the species’ natural environment far more closely than the shark habitats provided previously at other facilities.

Most visitors to the aquarium are already aware that the great white shark is an endangered species.

Certain other species of sharks are at greater risk of extinction than the great white shark.

The expense involved in capturing a great white shark is difficult to predict.

Bayside Aquarium’s popularity is due primarily to its large variety of sea life.

The argument states that Bayside Aquarium plans to capture a great white shark to raise public awareness about its endangered status. However, it points out that most great white sharks do not survive in captivity for more than one month, suggesting that the plan would be a waste of resources. The conclusion is that the aquarium's financial resources would be better directed toward other preservation efforts.

Now let's analyze each answer choice:

(A) Bayside Aquarium’s shark habitat would resemble the species’ natural environment far more closely than the shark habitats provided previously at other facilities. This option weakens the argument by suggesting that Bayside Aquarium has made significant improvements in creating a shark habitat that closely resembles the great white shark's natural environment. If the new habitat is designed to better accommodate the shark's needs, it could potentially increase the chances of the shark surviving in captivity for a longer period. Therefore, this weakens the claim that capturing the shark would be a waste of resources.

(B) Most visitors to the aquarium are already aware that the great white shark is an endangered species. This option is irrelevant to the argument since it addresses the awareness of the visitors rather than the survivability of the shark or the allocation of resources. Whether or not visitors are aware of the great white shark's endangered status doesn't directly impact the argument.

(C) Certain other species of sharks are at greater risk of extinction than the great white shark. This option also doesn't directly address the issue of the great white shark's survival in captivity or the allocation of resources. While it may be true that other species of sharks are more endangered, it doesn't weaken the argument that capturing a great white shark would be a waste of resources.

(D) The expense involved in capturing a great white shark is difficult to predict. This option introduces uncertainty regarding the financial aspect of capturing a great white shark. However, it doesn't directly weaken the argument that the plan would be a waste of resources. The argument is concerned with the shark's survival in captivity, not the cost of capturing it.

(E) Bayside Aquarium’s popularity is due primarily to its large variety of sea life. This option is also irrelevant to the argument. The popularity of the aquarium doesn't address the issue of capturing a great white shark or the allocation of resources.

Therefore, option (A) weakens the argument the most by suggesting that Bayside Aquarium has improved its shark habitat to closely resemble the shark's natural environment, increasing the likelihood of the shark's survival in captivity.

In the sport of maxiball, in which the objective is to score more goals than the opposing team, each team member faces off against one member of the other team. The coach for the Panthers predicts victory over the Cougars in an upcoming match between these two maxiball teams. The chief reason for the coach’s prediction is that the Cougars’ best defensive player will not be defending against Fonsica, who is the Panthers’ highest scoring player.

Which of the following, if true, would cast most doubt on the prediction made by the Panthers’ coach?

The Panthers have defeated fewer opponents than the Cougars this year.

Fonsica is the Panther’s best defensive player.

The Panthers’ best defensive player will not be defending against the Cougars’ highest scoring player.

Fonsica is not the Panthers’ best defensive player.

The Cougars’ highest scoring player will not be defending against Fonsica.

The argument: The coach for the Panthers predicts victory over the Cougars in an upcoming maxiball match. The chief reason for this prediction is that the Cougars' best defensive player will not be defending against Fonsica, who is the Panthers' highest scoring player.

We are asked to find the answer choice that casts the most doubt on the coach's prediction. In other words, we need to identify the option that weakens the link between the absence of the Cougars' best defensive player and the Panthers' victory.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

(A) The Panthers have defeated fewer opponents than the Cougars this year. This information does not directly weaken the coach's prediction. It relates to the teams' past performances, but it doesn't address the specific matchup between Fonsica and the Cougars' best defensive player.

(B) Fonsica is the Panther's best defensive player. This information does not weaken the coach's prediction either. The coach's argument is based on the absence of the Cougars' best defensive player, not Fonsica's defensive abilities.

(C) The Panthers' best defensive player will not be defending against the Cougars' highest scoring player. This option weakens the coach's prediction because it introduces the possibility that even though the Cougars' best defensive player is absent, the Panthers' best defensive player (who is not mentioned in the coach's argument) might also be absent. If the Panthers' best defensive player is not present to defend against the Cougars' highest scoring player, it could significantly impact the outcome of the game.

(D) Fonsica is not the Panthers' best defensive player. This information is irrelevant to the coach's argument. The coach's prediction is based on the absence of the Cougars' best defensive player, not the defensive skills of Fonsica or any other player on the Panthers' team.

(E) The Cougars' highest scoring player will not be defending against Fonsica. This information is also irrelevant to the coach's argument. The coach's prediction is focused on the absence of the Cougars' best defensive player, not the defensive matchup between Fonsica and the Cougars' highest scoring player.

Based on the analysis above, option (C) weakens the coach's prediction the most by introducing the possibility that the Panthers' best defensive player will not be available to defend against the Cougars' highest scoring player.

The brochure for “Sailboat Sellers Inc.” indicates that sailboats manufactured before 1990 are more likely to have retained their original finish, polish, and detailing than those manufactured in 1990 or later. Therefore, sailboat manufacturers were more attentive to producing higher-quality, durable sailboats before 1990 than was the case subsequently.

Which of the following, if true, would serve to cast doubt on this conclusion?

The level of resources dedicated to the manufacturing process of sailboats is generally much higher than that for most other manufactured goods.

Sailboats built after 1990 are generally larger, spend more time at sea, and accommodate more people per use than those built before 1990.

The materials used by sailboat manufacturers before 1990 were not significantly different from those used after 1990.

The average time to manufacture a sailboat has declined significantly since 1990.

Re-finishing, polishing, and detailing a sailboat is very costly, leading many owners to trade in their sailboats for a replacement or buy a new one as opposed to repairing the original.

The conclusion states that sailboats manufactured before 1990 are more likely to have retained their original finish, polish, and detailing than those manufactured in 1990 or later, implying that sailboat manufacturers were more attentive to producing higher-quality, durable sailboats before 1990.

(A) The level of resources dedicated to the manufacturing process of sailboats is generally much higher than that for most other manufactured goods. This answer choice doesn't directly address the argument about the quality of sailboats. It talks about the level of resources but doesn't provide any information about the attention to detail or the original finish and polish.

(B) Sailboats built after 1990 are generally larger, spend more time at sea, and accommodate more people per use than those built before 1990. This answer choice does not address the claim about the original finish, polish, and detailing of sailboats. It focuses on the size, usage, and accommodation capacity, which is not relevant to the conclusion.

(C) The materials used by sailboat manufacturers before 1990 were not significantly different from those used after 1990. This answer choice directly weakens the conclusion. If the materials used before and after 1990 were not significantly different, it suggests that the quality of sailboats may not have been affected by the change in manufacturing dates. It suggests that factors other than material differences could be responsible for the observed difference in the retained finish, polish, and detailing.

(D) The average time to manufacture a sailboat has declined significantly since 1990. This answer choice doesn't provide any information about the quality of sailboats. Even if the time to manufacture sailboats has declined, it doesn't necessarily indicate a decrease in attention to detail or a change in the quality of the finished product.

(E) Re-finishing, polishing, and detailing a sailboat is very costly, leading many owners to trade in their sailboats for a replacement or buy a new one as opposed to repairing the original. This answer choice also weakens the conclusion. If re-finishing, polishing, and detailing are costly, it provides an alternative explanation for why sailboats manufactured after 1990 may not have retained their original finish, polish, and detailing. Owners may choose to trade them in or buy new ones instead of investing in repairs.

Therefore, the correct answer is (C) because it directly challenges the argument by stating that the materials used before and after 1990 were not significantly different.

Members of the staff at the local daycare suggest that parents would have more incentive to pick up their children on time if the parents were assessed a fine after arriving more than 10 minutes late to pick up their children.

Which of the following, assuming that it is a realistic possibility, argues the most strongly against the effectiveness of the suggestion above?

By replacing social norms with market norms, fines might induce parents to weigh the “costs” of picking their children up late and, as a result, to frequently choose to be late.

There might be irreconcilable disagreements among the daycare staff about whether the late fines should be imposed.

Late fines might cause some parents to enroll their children in other daycares.

Removing the late fine policy might actually increase the number of tardy pick-ups.

Some parents might pick up their children late no matter what level of fine is imposed against them.

The question is asking which of the answer choices argues most strongly against the effectiveness of the suggestion to impose fines on parents who arrive more than 10 minutes late to pick up their children from the daycare.

(A) By replacing social norms with market norms, fines might induce parents to weigh the "costs" of picking their children up late and, as a result, frequently choose to be late.

This answer choice suggests that by introducing fines, the daycare would shift the behavior from a social norm (picking up children on time out of a sense of responsibility) to a market norm (weighing the financial cost of being late). This change in perspective might actually lead parents to calculate the cost of being late and choose to be late more frequently, therefore undermining the effectiveness of the suggested fine.

(B) There might be irreconcilable disagreements among the daycare staff about whether the late fines should be imposed.

This answer choice focuses on potential disagreements among the daycare staff about implementing the late fines. While it implies a potential obstacle to implementing the policy, it does not directly argue against the effectiveness of the fines themselves.

(C) Late fines might cause some parents to enroll their children in other daycares.

This answer choice suggests that imposing late fines might lead some parents to withdraw their children from the daycare and enroll them elsewhere. While this could have an impact on the daycare, it does not directly argue against the effectiveness of the fines in incentivizing parents to pick up their children on time.

(D) Removing the late fine policy might actually increase the number of tardy pick-ups.

This answer choice presents the idea that removing the late fine policy could lead to an increase in the number of tardy pick-ups. While it implies that the fines might be effective, it does not directly argue against their effectiveness.

(E) Some parents might pick up their children late no matter what level of fine is imposed against them.

This answer choice suggests that some parents may continue to pick up their children late, regardless of the fine imposed on them. While it acknowledges that fines may not deter all parents from being late, it does not directly argue against the effectiveness of the fines as an incentive for other parents to be on time.

After evaluating each answer choice, it becomes clear that answer choice (A) provides the strongest argument against the effectiveness of the suggested fine. It highlights the potential negative impact of replacing social norms with market norms, where parents may start weighing the financial costs and choosing to be late more frequently. This undermines the effectiveness of the fines as an incentive to pick up children on time.

Therefore, the correct answer is (A).

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What are Travel Intermediaries? This is Their Role in the Tourism Industry

What Are Travel Intermediaries?

Who was the first tourism intermediary, what are the functions of travel intermediaries in tourism, types of travel intermediaries, examples of travel intermediaries, negative impacts of intermediaries on tourism.

Travel intermediaries are some of the most critical agents in the tourism distribution channel. Thanks to tourism intermediation, among other factors, the travel and tourism industry is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide .

It’s also one of the most resilient industries. Although it took a massive hit due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, which made its revenue plummet by more than 50%, the market is expected to recover and start growing again.

According to Statista , the travel and tourism market is expected to reach $385,865 million in revenue in 2021 . If it shows the projected CAGR of 24.03%, it will reach the market volume of $913,275 million by 2025 , generating 72% of total revenue through online sales.

How do travel intermediaries help the market grow? What are they, really, and what is their role in tourism? Read on to find out.

The simplest definition of a travel intermediary is a “ distribution agent that participates in the sale and/or brokerage of travel and tourism-related products and services .”

Travel intermediaries act as middlemen between suppliers and consumers , buying and reselling products and services related to tourism, such as packaged holidays, tickets, tours, accommodation, car hire, etc.

For instance, a B2B tour operator can sell one-day tours to a travel agent, who then sells them to consumers.

Travel intermediaries can act as middlemen between multiple parties in the tourism distribution channel , resulting in several stages in the supply chain, including principals, wholesalers & aggregators, retailers, and consumers .

For instance, a bed bank that buys accommodation products can sell them to other bed banks, tour operators, travel agents, airlines, and online travel agencies (OTAs).

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Discover our Fintech Optimization Suite. Stay ahead in the travel intermediary market.

The first tourism intermediary was Thomas Cook , a famous English businessman and founder of Thomas Cook & Son (later Thomas Cook Group), the first travel agency as we know it.

Thomas Cook was a passionate advocate of the temperance movement. Back in 1841, he wanted to attend a rally in Loughborough, so he made a deal with the Midland Railway to organize a group tour for a commission. His return rail journey was an excursion that made history, leading to other leisure and commercial trips.

In 1855, Thomas Cook organized the first international tour , offering the first holiday package ever , which included travel, accommodation, and food.

The agency’s successor, Thomas Cook Holidays , bought the brand in 2019 when the company went into liquidation.

The primary role of travel intermediaries in tourism is to provide travel-related products and services to consumers . Whether they offer tours, tickets, transportation seats, accommodation, or any other related service, they purchase them from suppliers and resell them to travelers.

As such, they can perform a variety of value-added functions , including:

• Providing information about the available travel and tourism products and services
• Making reservations and travel arrangements
• Creating travel packages
• Preparing tickets and confirming bookings
• Contacting leads, prospects, and customers
• Buying or reserving products in bulk to resell to businesses or travelers
• Promoting excess inventories
• Reducing customer acquisition costs

There are two main types of travel intermediaries :

• Wholesalers & aggregators

When it comes to wholesalers & aggregators , travel trade intermediaries can be:

• B2B tour operators – they sell tours to travel agents
• Bed banks – B2B companies that buy bulk accommodation products at a discounted, fixed price for specific dates and resells them to travel agents, OTAs, tour operators, airlines, and other bed banks
• DMCs (Destination Management Companies) or DMOs (Destination Management Organizations) – they sell tours, events, activities, transportation products, and travel packages to tour operators;
• Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) – computerized network systems with availability records from hotels, airlines, travel agencies, and car rental companies, providing real-time inventory access to retailers.
• As for retailers in tourism intermediation , there are:
• Travel agents – brick-and-mortar travel agencies, the main of which are high street travel agents and specialist business travel agents
• OTAs – online marketplaces that allow consumers to book travel products and services and explore travel reviews
• B2C tour operators – online platforms that offer access to OTAs, hotels, car rental companies, and other tourism suppliers.

Some of the most popular travel trade intermediaries are Booking, Expedia, Viator, Hotels, Trip.com, Despegar, and Travelocity. Those are some of the top online travel agencies worldwide that hundreds of travel and tourism suppliers have partnered with.

TravTravel and Miki Travel are excellent examples of B2B tour operators , while Exodus Travels, Intrepid Travel, Trailfinders, Holiday Architects, Wild Frontiers, and Selective Asia are their popular B2C counterparts .

If you’re looking for a good GDS , you can’t go wrong with Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, Pegasus, Worldspan, and Apollo.

As for DMCs or DMOs , some of the most notable include Marketing Manchester, Global DMC Network by JTB Group, Hosts Global, Terra Events, PRA, IVI DMC Enterprises, Terramar, and Ovation Global DMC.

Some of the most popular bed banks are Hotelbeds, Bonotel, Travco, HotelsPro, WebBeds, and Stuba.

Last but not least, some of the most renowned high street travel agents include Cooperative Travel, TUI, and Hays Travel, while TravelPerk and DIB Travel are a few prominent specialist business travel agents .

While travel intermediaries help the travel and tourism industry grow, they have posed particular challenges to the market’s infrastructure .

As there are more and more intermediaries out there, many service providers find it challenging to cut through the noise of competition and reach potential customers. That’s particularly true of small and medium-sized businesses that can’t match the big players’ budgets.

Another issue appears with many OTAs remitting occupancy taxes based only on the discounted purchase prices , not on the retail prices. That makes it challenging for hotels to recover the lost revenue , as they apply their occupancy rates to their room’s total prices.

That’s why many governments are stepping in to collect total tax revenues on accommodation and other travel services that intermediaries sell in their jurisdictions.

If you’re looking for ways to increase your booking profits , Hotelmize can help. With our AI-based platform’s price-prediction algorithms, you can unlock hidden revenue opportunities, achieve maximum arbitrage, and supercharge your profit margins .

Book a demo today to see it in action.

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Cristóbal Reali, VP of Global Sales at Mize, with over 20 years of experience, has led high-performance teams in major companies in the tourism industry, as well as in the public sector. He has successfully undertaken ventures, including a DMO and technology transformation consulting. In his role at Mize, he stands out not only for his analytical and strategic ability but also for effective leadership. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. He holds a degree in Economics from UBA, complementing his professional training at Harvard Business School Online.

Mize is the leading hotel booking optimization solution in the world. With over 170 partners using our fintech products, Mize creates new extra profit for the hotel booking industry using its fully automated proprietary technology and has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue across its suite of products for its partners. Mize was founded in 2016 with its headquarters in Tel Aviv and offices worldwide.

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Travel agents are market intermediaries who make their living by gathering, organizing, and dispensing information about travel-related services that is not readily available to most consumers. Through new information technologies, such as the internet, much of this information can now be made directly available to consumers. Demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced.

Which of the following, if true , most seriously weakens the argument ?

旅行社提供相关顾客不易获得的旅行信息，但现在信息技术方便，比如互联网，大家可以直接自己获得信息，对于旅行社的需求就会大大减少。

A.旅行社经常用互联网和其他技术获得信息，增强观点，错误

B.互联网和其他技术的信息速度增长，客户很难处理信息，正确，客户很难处理信息，所以他们还是会依赖旅行社的帮助

C.很多人定机票旅馆，不需要旅行社的帮助，增强观点，错误

D.使用旅行社服务的人同样会使用新的信息技术，无关属性

E.比较少的人在用互联网和别的信息技术，就算小部分的人使用，信息的普及导致使用互联网的人依然会减少，不能削弱观点

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Travel agency industry - statistics & facts

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• Premium Statistic Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024
• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales
• Premium Statistic Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide from 2011 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024

Key data on the travel agency industry worldwide as of January 2024

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales

Leading travel companies worldwide in 2022, by gross sales (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Number of employees at selected leading travel companies worldwide in 2022

Online travel agencies (OTAs)

• Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
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• Basic Statistic Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2013-2023
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• Premium Statistic Despegar: revenue 2015-2023

Leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Marketing expenses of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Marketing to revenue ratio of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2013-2023

Total revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. in China from 2013 to 2023 (in billion yuan)

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Despegar: revenue 2015-2023

Revenue of Despegar.com, Corp. from 2015 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Travel websites and apps

• Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024
• Premium Statistic Total visits to travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024
• Premium Statistic ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2024
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
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• Premium Statistic Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share
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Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Most visited travel and tourism websites worldwide as of April 2024 (in million visits)

Total visits to travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide 2021-2024

Estimated total number of visits to the travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide from December 2021 to March 2024 (in millions)

Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024

Estimated total number of visits to the travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide from August 2020 to March 2024 (in millions)

ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2024

U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites from 2000 to 2024 (index score)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps in the United States in 2023 (in millions)

Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share

Market share of leading travel apps in the United States in 2022

Leading travel apps in Europe 2022, by market share

Market share of leading travel apps in Europe in 2022

Travel agencies and tour operators

• Premium Statistic U.S. travel agency industry market size 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic U.S. tour operator industry market size 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024
• Premium Statistic Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed
• Premium Statistic Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023

Market size of the travel agency sector in the United States from 2012 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Market size of the tour operator sector in the United States from 2012 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023

Revenue of TUI AG worldwide from 2004 to 2023 (in billion euros)

Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024

Leading travel agencies in the United Kingdom (UK) as of February 2024, by number of travel shops

Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed

Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the United Kingdom as of February 2024, ranked by number of passengers licensed

Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023

Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2023 (in million GBP)

Cruise companies

• Premium Statistic Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
• Premium Statistic TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand
• Premium Statistic Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

Worldwide cruise company market share 2022

Worldwide market share of leading cruise companies in 2022

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 1988 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Revenue of TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2015 to 2023, by brand (in million euros)

Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

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Mastering the Intermediaries

• Benjamin Edelman

Strategies for dealing with the likes of Google, Amazon, and Kayak

Reprint: R1406F

Almost every retailer looks to Google to refer customers, and it’s rare to find a manufacturer whose products aren’t sold on Amazon. But these and other big platforms can capture a disproportionate share of the value a company creates: Buy an app on iTunes, and Apple takes 30%. The author presents four strategies to help businesses reduce their dependence on powerful platforms.

Exploit the platform’s need to be comprehensive.

American Airlines’ strong coverage of key routes made its presence on the travel website Kayak indispensable to Kayak’s value proposition. As a result, AA negotiated a better deal.

Identify and discredit discrimination.

Public complaints that eBay was giving search prominence to suppliers who advertised on the site forced a reversal of the policy.

Create an alternative platform.

When MovieTickets was on the verge of dominating phone and online ticketing, Regal Entertainment and two other large theater chains formed Fandango.

Deal more directly.

People ordering takeout through online platforms like Foodler and GrubHub have often already chosen their restaurant. Restaurants that deal directly can exit the platform.

In our increasingly digital world, businesses and consumers have become starkly more dependent on a number of powerful platforms. Of course, platforms aren’t new. For three decades, airlines have been relying on computerized reservation systems to reach travel agents and key customers. But platform dependence is now ubiquitous. Almost every retailer looks to Google to refer customers, and it’s rare to find a manufacturer whose products are not sold on Amazon.

• Benjamin Edelman is an associate professor at Harvard Business School and an adviser to various companies that compete against major platforms.

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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