Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register

Boldface Questions

This topic has 9 member replies
Bookmark
Previous Topic Next Topic

GMAT/MBA Expert

beatthegmat Founder
Joined
13 Feb 2006
Posted:
6296 messages
Followed by:
445 members
Thanked:
825 times
Test Date:
2005
GMAT Score:
720
Boldface Questions Post Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:54 pm
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    I can't remember where I originally found these guidelines--they are an introduction to a relatively new type of CR question called boldface questions. Just some advice: don't freak out about them. While they are difficult, people often make the mistake of overemphasizing them. I only saw one on my GMAT, but I had spent so much time preparing for them needlessly...

    ***

    One of the new question types in GMAT CAT is the bolded question in Critical Reasoning Section. In such argument, one or two sentences in stimulus are bolded. A sample question looks like this.

    Something must be done to stop spam. In early days, people seldom received unsolicited email advertisement; but now that numerous bulk email software and email address finders are developed to collect email address all around the world. Advertisers use email addresses to market their products and even sell such email lists to other advertisers. As a result, almost everyone ever get junk email, and sometime several and even tens of annoying emails a day. So, relevant anti-spam regulations should be framed to stop unsolicited advertising.

    The two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

    A. Background that the argument depends on and conclusion that can be drawn from the argument.

    B. Part of evidence that the argument includes, and inference that can be drawn from this passage.

    C. Pre-evidence that the argument depends on and part of evidence that supports the conclusion.

    D. Background that argument depends on and part of evidence that supports the conclusion.

    E. Pre-evidence that argument includes and a method that helps to supports that conclusion.

    The question following requires you to identify the logical relationship between the boldfaced sentences, or how it relates to a particular position (the author agree or disagree).

    Boldface question is totally new on computer-based test, but is easy to tackle. All you have to do is to understand the argument: identify the conclusion, evidence, and the reasoning from evidence to conclusion. Sometime, you are required to critique the validity of the argument.

    How to approach Boldface Question

    1.Identify the conclusion. Ask yourself what the conclusion is, what the author trying to prove, or what the author¡¯s main point is.

    2.Look for the evidence that the author uses to support or argue against a position.

    3. Search for argument indicator to determine the relationship between evidence and conclusion.

    Conclusion Indicators
    so
    thus
    therefore
    as a result
    consequently
    accordingly
    hence
    imply
    conclude that
    follows that
    means that
    infer that


    Premise Indicators
    because
    since
    for
    as
    if
    assume
    suppose
    evidence
    on the basis of
    the reason is that
    may be derived from
    in that


    Counter-evidence Indicators
    actually
    despite
    admittedly
    except
    even though
    nonetheless
    nevertheless
    although
    however
    In spite of
    do
    may


    4. Before you pick up the answer choices, make sure you did NOT mistake counter-evidence as evidence

    _________________
    Eric
    Founder of Beat The GMAT

    MBA Watch - Your one-stop shop for all MBA program research



    Last edited by beatthegmat on Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:41 pm; edited 1 time in total

    Thanked by: wallstreetlady, landroni, fenerbahce
    Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!
    oxygen008 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
    Joined
    18 Apr 2006
    Posted:
    8 messages
    Post Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:03 am
    answer A?

    GMAT/MBA Expert

    beatthegmat Founder
    Joined
    13 Feb 2006
    Posted:
    6296 messages
    Followed by:
    445 members
    Thanked:
    825 times
    Test Date:
    2005
    GMAT Score:
    720
    Post Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:33 pm
    The answer is A. The first boldface provides the background that regulations were not needed in the early days. The second boldface provides the conclusion that regulation is now needed to stop unsolicited e-mails.

    _________________
    Eric
    Founder of Beat The GMAT

    MBA Watch - Your one-stop shop for all MBA program research

    Thanked by: fenerbahce
    aim-wsc GMAT Titan
    Joined
    20 Apr 2006
    Posted:
    2472 messages
    Followed by:
    6 members
    Thanked:
    70 times
    Target GMAT Score:
    801-
    Post Tue May 09, 2006 8:28 am
    it's very informative post.
    thanks.

    i dont believe that i am seeing such a question for the first time.
    ...must have been very rare type.
    at first i find it quite difficult.. rather different.
    but then thanks to the strat u hv given.. it seems piece o cake now.
    anyways
    Thanks once again

    saahilk Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
    Joined
    01 Sep 2006
    Posted:
    1 messages
    Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:18 am
    beatthegmat wrote:
    The answer is A. The first boldface provides the background that regulations were not needed in the early days. The second boldface provides the conclusion that regulation is now needed to stop unsolicited e-mails.
    Hey do you have any more questions of this type?
    Thanks

    Psychodementia Rising GMAT Star
    Joined
    22 Sep 2006
    Posted:
    57 messages
    Thanked:
    11 times
    Post Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:27 pm
    <snip>



    Last edited by Psychodementia on Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:31 am; edited 1 time in total

    countingdolls Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
    Joined
    02 Oct 2006
    Posted:
    13 messages
    Post Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:08 am
    Is the answer E?

    Psychodementia Rising GMAT Star
    Joined
    22 Sep 2006
    Posted:
    57 messages
    Thanked:
    11 times
    Post Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:05 am
    OA is (B)

    ellexay Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
    Joined
    24 Jan 2009
    Posted:
    57 messages
    Thanked:
    1 times
    Test Date:
    Feb 13, 2009
    Post Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:15 pm
    OA is B then, not A?

    I agree with B, as I don't believe that the fact about what it was like in earlier days is something the argument *depends* on.

    nileshdalvi Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
    Joined
    28 Feb 2009
    Posted:
    159 messages
    Followed by:
    2 members
    Thanked:
    12 times
    Post Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:56 am
    The Answer is A.

    First thing to be noted here is that the Argument is that:

    Argument:

    "Something must be done to stop spam".

    Conclusion:

    "Anti-spam regulations are should be framed to stop unsolicited advertising(spam)".

    Premise 1:

    "In early days, people seldom received unsolicited email advertisement"

    Premise 2 and Evidence:

    "numerous bulk email software and email address finders are developed to collect email address all around the world. Advertisers use email addresses to market their products and even sell such email lists to other advertisers."

    Premise 2 can be paraphrased to how spam spreads which is not of much concern to us as we need to compare the boldface statements.

    Now lets perform analysis:

    Analysis:

    A: Previously emails were received seldomly is background of the "Argument" mentioned above. Since Argument is that spam sholud be stopped and conclusion is framing anti-spam regulations, clearly "Seldom spam reception in early days" providing a background for the argument and the reason why conclusion is arrived on. Please note here that Background is not a separate entity in CR Domain but a part of premise. Here Background is Premise 1.
    And second boldface is clearly a conclusion. Anmy explanations needed??

    B: Part of Evidence that Argument Includes: Previously spam were not received is not an evidence that spam should be stopped. Bulk Email Softwares and Email Finders as well as selling of information are evidence that the spam must be stopped.
    Inference of Argument is that spam must be stopped. This is the Answer where one of the related sections is right. i.e the second boldface matches and not the first. This is a trap.

    C: "Spam was seldomly received earlier" is not an evidence or pre-evidence of any sort to the argument that "Spam should be stopped. Please make yourself clear of the meaning of evidence....

    e.g Company made profits earlier. Company's marketing strategies did not suit the current market trends. Hence, the company incurred loss.

    Pleas note that company made profits earlier is not an evidence to the Argument that it incurred loss. Hope this makes the point crystal clear.

    Second boldface is clearly conclusion and nothing of sort "part of evidence that supports the conclusion."

    D: Again a trap. First boldface matches but second is conclusion and not part of evidence.

    E: I dont think I need to explain this.

    The other options are a combination of

    1 right 2 wrong (D).
    2 right 1 wrong (B)
    1 wrong 2 wrong (C and E).

    Hope this helps and thanks for introducing such a new question type.

    Thanked by: sgvaish

    Best Conversation Starters
    1 GmatKiss 152 topics
    2 karthikpandian19 68 topics
    3 fangtray 66 topics
    4 ronnie1985 36 topics
    5 amit.trivedi@ymai... 34 topics
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

    Most Active Experts
    1 image description Bill@VeritasPrep

    Veritas Prep

    		 294 posts
    2 image description GMATGuruNY

    The Princeton Review Teacher

    		 202 posts
    3 image description Anurag@Gurome

    Gurome

    		 121 posts
    4 image description Stuart Kovinsky

    Kaplan GMAT Teacher

    		 90 posts
    5 image description Jon@PrecisionEssay

    Precision Essay

    		 80 posts
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts