Critical Reasoning

A leading board member of AutoSnip Co., makers of an automated home haircutting system, recently stated that the company was in terrible shape and headed for a disastrous year. His concern was that, since the introduction of the AutoSnip III last year, calls to the customer service line have nearly doubled, indicating that people are very unhappy with the new product. Although it's true that it is the job of responsible board members to raise issues of concern, in this case the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken. The customer service line handles not only complaints but also sales, and the majority of the new calls have been to place new orders.

What role do the two boldfaced selections play in the above argument?

A)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting a conclusion that the argument opposes.
B)The first provides evidence, an interpretation of which supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
C)The first provides incontrovertible evidence opposing the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
D)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second states that main conclusion.
E)he first provides evidence, an interpretation of which opposes the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides that interpretation.

Please share your reasoning for your answer choice. OA will be posted soon

Dude
my answer is B
please revert

Warlock007 wrote:Dude
my answer is B
please revert

Warlock , Please explain your reasoning

maddy2u wrote:

Warlock007 wrote:Dude
my answer is B
please revert

Warlock , Please explain your reasoning

in my opinion
The conclusion is [ Although it's true that it is the job of responsible board members to raise issues of concern, in this case the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken ]
first boldfaced is merely an evidence but it does not take us to the conclusion
but its interpretation takes us to the conclusion
whereas second provides evidence from which we can directly reach to the conlsusion
hope this is right [/url]

IMO : B

maddy2u wrote:A leading board member of AutoSnip Co., makers of an automated home haircutting system, recently stated that the company was in terrible shape and headed for a disastrous year. His concern was that, since the introduction of the AutoSnip III last year, calls to the customer service line have nearly doubled, indicating that people are very unhappy with the new product. Although it's true that it is the job of responsible board members to raise issues of concern, in this case the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken. The customer service line handles not only complaints but also sales, and the majority of the new calls have been to place new orders.

What role do the two boldfaced selections play in the above argument?

A)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting a conclusion that the argument opposes.
B)The first provides evidence, an interpretation of which supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
C)The first provides incontrovertible evidence opposing the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
D)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second states that main conclusion.
E)he first provides evidence, an interpretation of which opposes the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides that interpretation.

Please share your reasoning for your answer choice. OA will be posted soon

I received a PM asking me to respond. Bolded phrase questions are match games: we need to match each answer choice back to the bolded phrases in the passage. Any answer choice that doesn't completely match can be eliminated.

A)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting a conclusion that the argument opposes. Doesn't match: the second bolded phrase supports the conclusion.

B)The first provides evidence, an interpretation of which supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument. Bingo! The first bolded phrase provides evidence (that the number of calls has nearly doubled). One interpretation of this evidence (that the increase in calls is a positive sign) supports the conclusion (that the board member shouldn't be concerned). The second bolded phrase provides more evidence (that the calls are not from unsatisfied customers but from new customers) that supports the conclusion (that the board member shouldn't be concerned).

C)The first provides incontrovertible evidence opposing the main conclusion of the argument. Doesn't match: the first bolded phrase is used to support the conclusion, and the evidence is not incontrovertible but is subject to interpretation.

D) the second states the main conclusion. Doesn't match: the second bolded phrase is not the conclusion.

E) the first provides evidence, an interpretation of which opposes the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides that interpretation. Doesn't match. The second bolded phrase is used not to oppose the conclusion but to support it.

The correct answer is B.

I thinks the first bolded part is used as evidence to support"people are very unhappy with the new product",and the second bolded part is used to support"the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken". So C is the answer. Please correct me why my thought is wrong.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

maddy2u wrote:A leading board member of AutoSnip Co., makers of an automated home haircutting system, recently stated that the company was in terrible shape and headed for a disastrous year. His concern was that, since the introduction of the AutoSnip III last year, calls to the customer service line have nearly doubled, indicating that people are very unhappy with the new product. Although it's true that it is the job of responsible board members to raise issues of concern, in this case the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken. The customer service line handles not only complaints but also sales, and the majority of the new calls have been to place new orders.

What role do the two boldfaced selections play in the above argument?

A)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting a conclusion that the argument opposes.
B)The first provides evidence, an interpretation of which supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
C)The first provides incontrovertible evidence opposing the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
D)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second states that main conclusion.
E)he first provides evidence, an interpretation of which opposes the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides that interpretation.

Please share your reasoning for your answer choice. OA will be posted soon

I received a PM asking me to respond. Bolded phrase questions are match games: we need to match each answer choice back to the bolded phrases in the passage. Any answer choice that doesn't completely match can be eliminated.

A)The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting a conclusion that the argument opposes. Doesn't match: the second bolded phrase supports the conclusion.

B)The first provides evidence, an interpretation of which supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument. Bingo! The first bolded phrase provides evidence (that the number of calls has nearly doubled). One interpretation of this evidence (that the increase in calls is a positive sign) supports the conclusion (that the board member shouldn't be concerned). The second bolded phrase provides more evidence (that the calls are not from unsatisfied customers but from new customers) that supports the conclusion (that the board member shouldn't be concerned).

C)The first provides incontrovertible evidence opposing the main conclusion of the argument. Doesn't match: the first bolded phrase is used to support the conclusion, and the evidence is not incontrovertible but is subject to interpretation.

D) the second states the main conclusion. Doesn't match: the second bolded phrase is not the conclusion.

E) the first provides evidence, an interpretation of which opposes the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides that interpretation. Doesn't match. The second bolded phrase is used not to oppose the conclusion but to support it.

The correct answer is B.

ahnan wrote:I thinks the first bolded part is used as evidence to support"people are very unhappy with the new product",and the second bolded part is used to support"the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken". So C is the answer. Please correct me why my thought is wrong.

The first bolded phrase (the increase in phone calls) is evidence that could support either the conclusion of the board member (that people are unhappy) or the conclusion of the argument (that people are not unhappy). Which interpretation is correct depends on the reason for the increase. Since the number of phone calls has doubled because new customers are calling, the increase supports the conclusion of the argument.

Hi Can You pls reveal the Source?

Chose E. Damn. felt that "that interpretation" referred to the main conclusion

IMO (C) is the answer as the main conclusion is that the board member's analysis is mistaken. The second boldface sentence provides the support for the conclusion.

The answer is B.

Looking at the prompt, there are 2 conclusions:
1) leading board member: company headed for bad year
2) author: board member is mistaken (*main conclusion)

The first bolded part is evidence used by the board member for a conclusion opposing the main conclusion. His premise is that calls to the customer service line have nearly doubled--> people are unhappy with the product. This premise is interpreted differently as evidence for the main conclusion-->the majority of the new calls have been to place new orders.

A) the second is evidence SUPPORTING the conclusion of the argument.
B) BINGO: the first is evidence that is used to support the main conclusion when interpreted differently, and the second is supporting the main conclusion of the argument. CORRECT.
C) incontrovertible evidence opposing? NO- it is also used to SUPPORT.
D) 2nd does not state main conclusion, it is a premise of the main conclusion.
E) the second is NOT an interpretation that opposes the main conclusino, it is a premise that SUPPORTS the mai nconclusion.

Answer is B

A leading board member of AutoSnip Co., makers of an automated home haircutting system, recently stated that the company was in terrible shape and headed for a disastrous year. His concern was that, since the introduction of the AutoSnip III last year, calls to the customer service line have nearly doubled, indicating that people are very unhappy with the new product. Although it's true that it is the job of responsible board members to raise issues of concern, in this case the board member's analysis of the situation is mistaken. The customer service line handles not only complaints but also sales, and the majority of the new calls have been to place new orders.

What role do the two boldfaced selections play in the above argument?

(A) The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting a conclusion that the argument opposes.
(B) The first provides evidence, an interpretation of which supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
(C) The first provides incontrovertible evidence opposing the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument.
(D) The first provides evidence supporting the main conclusion of the argument; the second states that main conclusion.
(E) he first provides evidence, an interpretation of which opposes the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides that interpretation.

IMO: B
I luckily answered this Q correct.
But the most of time I do these Qs wrong.
Is there any specific strategy to handle these kind of questions in CR?
Help would be appreciated!