Test: Bold Face CR - GMAT MCQ

Let's break down the answer choices and identify the correct one.

(A) Factual evidence that the argument includes, and inference that can be drawn from this passage.

• This answer choice suggests that the two boldface portions are both evidence and inferences. However, in the given passage, the two boldface portions are not inferences but rather a premise and a conclusion. Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

(B) Premise on which the argument depends, and conclusion that can be drawn from the argument.

• This answer choice accurately identifies the roles of the two boldface portions. The first boldface portion, "A claim that an object dropped from a certain height will fall towards the earth with a standard acceleration can be checked repeatedly by different people," serves as the premise on which the argument depends. The second boldface portion, "If their results differ from the claim, then the statement has been falsified," is the conclusion that can be drawn from the argument. Therefore, this answer choice is correct.

(C) Inference that can be drawn from this passage, and conclusion that can be drawn from the argument.

• This answer choice incorrectly identifies the first boldface portion as an inference, but it is actually a premise. Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

(D) Counter-evidence that the argument depends on, and premise included in the argument.

• This answer choice incorrectly suggests that the first boldface portion is counter-evidence, but it is actually a premise. Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

(E) Background that the argument depends on, and part of the evidence that supports the conclusion.

• This answer choice incorrectly suggests that the first boldface portion is background information, but it is actually a premise. Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

Based on the analysis above, the correct answer is (B) Premise on which the argument depends, and conclusion that can be drawn from the argument.

In any boldface critical reasoning problem, you need to carefully map out all elements of the argument. Remember that everything in a CR stimulus is a conclusion, a premise, or context. First find the conclusion, which is quite clearly the last sentence: “So clearly doctors need to stop prescribing antibiotics to treat the common cold.” To be sure, ask “why” and then map out the premises supporting this opinion. Why?
Because 1. these illnesses are viral in nature, and such medications have no effect on viruses and 2. This course of treatment is troublesome, as antibiotics have dangerous side effects and unnecessary use of these drugs can lead to resistant bacteria. So it should be quite clear that the second boldfaced portion is a premise supporting the author’s conclusion. Since it is easier, start with that portion in the answer choices.
"The first is a phenomenon that the argument addresses; the second is the author’s primary conclusion.", "The first is evidence used by the author to support his conclusion; the second is that conclusion.", and "The first is a circumstance that the author tries to explain; the second is the author’s primary conclusion." all refer to this premise as a conclusion so they can be confidently eliminated.
For the first boldfaced portion, this part is indeed “a phenomenon that the argument addresses” so "The first is a phenomenon that the argument addresses; the second is evidence used by the author to support his position." is correct. For "The first is a circumstance that the author tries to explain; the second is that explanation.", while this portion might be “a circumstance” it is not at all what the author is trying to explain.
The author is rather trying to show that this is a bad idea and must be stopped – he is not explaining why doctors do this! Therefore, both portions of "The first is a circumstance that the author tries to explain; the second is that explanation." are improperly described and this can be eliminated. Correct answer is "The first is a phenomenon that the argument addresses; the second is evidence used by the author to support his position.".

The first boldface sentence states that the fight against the drug trade in Country X should focus for the time being on tightening the country’s borders and targeting its major smugglers. The second boldface sentence states that the United Nations and the government of Country X should eventually replace the poppy fields with other farming ventures ("agricultural infrastructure"). We need to find a choice that describes the relationship between these two sentences.

(A) This choice states that the first sentence is the conclusion and that the second sentence is an alternative to that conclusion. This misrepresents the relationship. The first sentence is a shorter-term conclusion and the second sentence is a longer-term conclusion of the argument.

(B) CORRECT. This choice states that the first sentence is a short-term solution to a problem and the second a long-term solution to the same problem. This accurately describes the relationship. The first sentence states that the fight should focus "for the time being" on borders and smuggling while the second sentence states that the United Nations and the government of Country X should work to replace the poppy crop with something else.

(C) This choice states that the first sentence presents a problem. According to the text, however, the first sentence is not a problem but a solution to a problem.

(D) This choice states that the first sentence presents a popular solution to a problem. Since we have no way of knowing whether the solution is popular, this cannot be correct.

(E) This choice states that the first sentence presents an argument and that the second sentence provides evidence to support that argument. Though the first sentence does present an argument, the second sentence, rather than providing evidence, presents a second argument.

Roles of Boldfaced Statements
Boldfaced Statement 1: "The seeds themselves are quite expensive, and the plants require more fertilizer and water to grow well than normal ones."

Role: Presents a drawback of genetically engineered seeds.
Boldfaced Statement 2: "Since consumer demand for grains, fruits, and vegetables grown without the use of pesticides continues to rise."

Role: Provides a counterpoint suggesting a reason why these seeds might still become popular.
Correct Answer
(C) The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.

First Boldfaced Statement: Presents a drawback leading to the prediction that seeds are not cost-effective.
Second Boldfaced Statement: Provides a consideration (rising consumer demand) that weighs against that prediction, suggesting the seeds might still become widespread.

A. The first describes a practice that the argument seeks to justify; the second states a judgment that is used in support of a justification for that practice.
The first BF portion does describe a company practice, but the argument seeks to EVALUATE this practice, not to JUSTIFY it. Furthermore, rather than justifying the practice, the second BF portion suggests that the practice is not needed. (A) can be eliminated.

B. The first describes a practice that the argument seeks to explain; the second presents part of the argument’s explanation of that practice.
The argument seeks to EVALUATE the practice rather than EXPLAIN it. Furthermore, the second BF portion does not serve to explain the practice, so (B) can be eliminated.

C. The first introduces a practice that the argument seeks to evaluate; the second provides grounds for holding that the practice cannot achieve its objective.
The first BF portion does introduce a company practice that the argument seeks to evaluate, but the second simply states that there are other ways to achieve the goals of that practice. The second does not necessarily imply that the current practice cannot achieve its objective, so (C) is off the mark.

D. The first introduces a policy that the argument seeks to evaluate; the second provides grounds for holding that the policy is not needed.
The first BF portion does introduce a company policy that the argument seeks to evaluate, and the second states that there are other ways to achieve the goals of that policy. If there are other ways to achieve the goals of that policy, then one could argue that the policy is not needed. Choice (D) looks good.

E. The first introduces a consideration supporting a policy that the argument seeks to evaluate; the second provides evidence for concluding that the policy should be abandoned.
The first BF portion is the policy itself, not a consideration supporting the policy. The second is evidence for concluding that the policy COULD be abandoned (because there are other ways to achieve the policy's goals), but it is not necessarily evidence for concluding that the policy SHOULD be abandoned. Eliminate (E).

A. The first states the conclusion of the city official's argument; the second provides support for that conclusion. You can eliminate this after the first sentence because the first is the conclusion of the critics not the city official.

B. The first is used to support the conclusion of the city official's argument; the second states that conclusion. Again you can eliminate this after the first sentence because the first is not used to support the city official's argument. The first is actually the critic's conclusion.

C. The first was used to support the conclusion drawn by hospital critics; the second states the position that the city official's argument opposes. The second states the city official's argument, not the argument he opposes. Eliminate this.

D. The first was used to support the conclusion drawn by hospital critics; the second provides support for the conclusion of the city official's argument. The first part is right, but the second certainly does not support the city official's argument because it IS the argument.

E. The first states the position that the city official's argument opposes; the second states the conclusion of the city official's argument. The first is the critic's conclusion and we know the city official opposes this position. Therefore, the first part of this is correct. The second part does in fact state the city official's argument. So this is correct too.

First boldfaced statement: "Within the next year, more portfolios will include gold, more companies will be created to serve people who consider trading gold, and more people will buy gold."

This is a prediction about the future demand for gold.
Second boldfaced statement: "Clearly, it can be concluded that gold will go up."

This is the main conclusion of the argument.
The correct answer is Option A:

First boldfaced statement: A prediction that supports the main conclusion.
Second boldfaced statement: The main conclusion of the argument.

Boldfaced Statement: "Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporations for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years."
Next Point: The pundit acknowledges this view but presents an alternative or additional explanation: "Yet clearly, online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline."
Supporting Evidence: The pundit provides evidence for the alternative explanation: "In the past ten years, sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply and surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that many purchasers of books online, if convenient online options had not been available to them, would otherwise have purchased books at a local bookstore."
Analysis of the Boldfaced Statement
The boldfaced statement sets up a commonly held belief or explanation (that major corporations' retail locations are to blame for the decline in locally owned bookstores). The pundit introduces this belief to subsequently challenge or offer an alternative explanation.

Evaluation of Answer Choices
(A) It is the main conclusion of the argument.
Incorrect. The main conclusion of the argument is about the role of online sales, not the blame placed on retail locations by major corporations.
(B) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.
Incorrect. The boldfaced statement is not a finding but rather a commonly held belief or explanation.
(C) It is an explanation that the argument concludes is correct.
Incorrect. The argument does not conclude that the explanation in the boldfaced statement is correct. Instead, it offers an alternative explanation.
(D) It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
Incorrect. The boldfaced statement does not support the main conclusion about online sales affecting the decline in bookstores. Instead, it is an opposing view.
(E) It introduces a judgment that the argument opposes.
Correct. The boldfaced statement introduces the common belief that major corporations' retail locations are to blame, which the pundit then challenges by presenting the alternative explanation involving online sales.
Therefore, the correct answer is:

(E) It introduces a judgment that the argument opposes.

The argument is discussing the reasons why scientists over the age of forty rarely produce highly creative work. The first boldface portion states that aging itself brings about a loss of creative capacity. The second boldface portion presents a finding from studies that a disproportionately large number of scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty entered their field at an older age than usual.

To determine the role played by the boldface portions, we need to identify their relationship to the argument as a whole.

The first boldface portion presents an explanation for the decline in creative work after the age of forty. It suggests that aging is the cause of the loss of creative capacity. However, the argument challenges this explanation by presenting the second boldface portion, which provides a finding that contradicts the notion that aging alone is responsible. The finding suggests that the real reason for the decline in highly creative work among scientists over forty is not simply due to aging but rather due to spending too long in a given field.

Based on this analysis, we can see that the first boldface portion presents an explanation that the argument challenges, and the second boldface portion is a finding on which that challenge is based.

Therefore, the correct answer is (D) The first is an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a finding on which that challenge is based.

(A)The first assesses the goal held by certain environmental organization;the second presents the logical goal that the reasoning concludes should be adopted instead
(B)The first assesses the goal held by certain environmental organization:the second presents the strategy that the reasoning concludes has the best chance of reaching that goal.
A and B are wrong: the first one is the conclusion.

(C)The first is the conclusion reached about one strategy for attaining a certain goal ; the second presents the strategy that the reasoning advocates
CORRECT
(D)The first is the main conclusion toward which the reasoning is directed;The second presents a strategy that is called sensible but for which no support is offered.
Support IS offered for the strategy. (second to last line)
(E)The first is the main conclusion toward which the reasoning is directed;The second is a consideration raised in order to support that conclusion
The second is an alternative strategy, not a consideration