Reading Comprehension

In the global economy of the 21st century, intellectual property is the principal engine for the creation of wealth. According to the State Department, intellectual property protection was vital to more than half of U.S. exports in the past decade, compared to less than 10% fifty years ago. Global piracy results in the annual loss of $250 million in sales and tax revenue for the United States while simultaneously threatening American competitiveness and jobs.

Rampant piracy of software, video games, books, and magazines, as well as the widespread counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals, electronics, and auto parts is an ever present danger for American manufacturers and workers, with the loss of hundreds of thousands of American jobs each year directly attributable to piracy and counterfeiting. According to the Department of Commerce, the nation's auto industry alone could hire an additional 200,000 workers if counterfeiting were eradicated.

The very nature of a counterfeit product makes it inherently difficult to detect, and counterfeit goods, often of inferior quality, pose a threat to consumer safety, particularly when they get into legitimate distribution channels. Therefore, while 20 percent of foreign-made counterfeit consumer products on store shelves were found to be substandard, according to a recent nationwide inspection, this number almost certainly underestimates the extent of the problem. The inspection revealed food laced with industrial chemicals, baby clothes contaminated with toxic chemicals, and cell phone batteries liable to explode under certain conditions. Recently, defective tires from abroad were found to have caused an accident in Pennsylvania resulting in two deaths.

Furthermore, transnational organized crime rings and terrorist networks are major players in the international supply chain of pirated and counterfeit goods, presenting a major threat to national security. International piracy and counterfeiting are serious issues with grave ramifications beyond economic loss, and immediate steps must be taken to address and eliminate these issues


It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is true of foreign-made counterfeit products?


(A) Some instances of chemical contamination of such products are currently undetected before the products are released to the public.

(B) Their manufacture and importation is facilitated by several well-known transnational organized crime rings based in strategic countries.

(C) They directly cause fatalities in many of the countries which import them without strict safety regulations.

(D) Individuals who sell them in the U.S. know they are counterfeits.

(E) The governments of countries in which they are manufactured do not take steps to prevent their export to the U.S.



Can anyone explain this with reasoning ?

Let me try Karthik:

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is true of foreign-made counterfeit products?


(A) Some instances of chemical contamination of such products are currently undetected before the products are released to the public.--- True. Refer to the third para 4th line which says that an inspection reveals..., this means that some of the counterfeit goods are currently undetected.

(B) Their manufacture and importation is facilitated by several well-known transnational organized crime rings based in strategic countries.--- The 4th para does say that crime rings have a hand in the supply chain of these products but it does not mention anything about their manufacture. So, I wouldn't go with this choice.

(C) They directly cause fatalities in many of the countries which import them without strict safety regulations.--- This is not talked about in the passage hence out of scope.

(D) Individuals who sell them in the U.S. know they are counterfeits.-- Again out of scope.

(E) The governments of countries in which they are manufactured do not take steps to prevent their export to the U.S.--- Out of scope

I hope this is correct.

OA is A

Birottam Dutta wrote:Let me try Karthik:

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is true of foreign-made counterfeit products?


(A) Some instances of chemical contamination of such products are currently undetected before the products are released to the public.--- True. Refer to the third para 4th line which says that an inspection reveals..., this means that some of the counterfeit goods are currently undetected.

(B) Their manufacture and importation is facilitated by several well-known transnational organized crime rings based in strategic countries.--- The 4th para does say that crime rings have a hand in the supply chain of these products but it does not mention anything about their manufacture. So, I wouldn't go with this choice.

(C) They directly cause fatalities in many of the countries which import them without strict safety regulations.--- This is not talked about in the passage hence out of scope.

(D) Individuals who sell them in the U.S. know they are counterfeits.-- Again out of scope.

(E) The governments of countries in which they are manufactured do not take steps to prevent their export to the U.S.--- Out of scope

I hope this is correct.

I think you got the answer right Birottam. Good explanation. I am going to tack on my two cents to further disqualify the other statements. By the way, I just saw the BTG rockstar youtube link in your signature, congratulations! I didn't know you had done your GMAT so long ago and were still sticking around to give us your valuable insights. awesome

Anyways, on to the question. Paying attention to the language used helps here. Let's look at the options.

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is true of foreign-made counterfeit products?


(A) Some instances of chemical contamination of such products are currently undetected before the products are released to the public.
We can infer this because we are told that
a. "The very nature of a counterfeit product makes it inherently difficult to detect", and
b. "The inspection revealed food laced with industrial chemicals, baby clothes contaminated with toxic chemicals..."

This is correct.
(B) Their manufacture and importation is facilitated by several well-known transnational organized crime rings based in strategic countries.
We are only told this "transnational organized crime rings and terrorist networks are major players in the international supply chain of pirated and counterfeit goods".
We don't know whether:
a. The organized crime rings are "WELL-KNOWN", or
b. They are based in "STRATEGIC COUNTRIES". No.

(C) They directly cause fatalities in many of the countries which import them without strict safety regulations.
We are only told that "Recently, defective tires from abroad were found to have caused an accident in Pennsylvania resulting in two deaths. "
We don't know whether:
a. All foreign-made counterfeits cause accidents "DIRECTLY", or
b. They do so in "MANY OF THE COUNTRIES". We are only given a single example. No.

(D) Individuals who sell them in the U.S. know they are counterfeits.
This is out of scope. The knowledge of sellers is not discussed. No.

(E) The governments of countries in which they are manufactured do not take steps to prevent their export to the U.S.
This is out of scope too. The attempts of governments of the manufacturing locales is not discussed. No.

Hence A.

Birottam....Congrats for BTG Rockstar.....I saw the youtube link it was great and more great was your contribution to this community even after you had finished GMAT long ago....rare to see people contributing after their goal is achieved.....>Thanks

Birottam Dutta wrote:Let me try Karthik:

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is true of foreign-made counterfeit products?


(A) Some instances of chemical contamination of such products are currently undetected before the products are released to the public.--- True. Refer to the third para 4th line which says that an inspection reveals..., this means that some of the counterfeit goods are currently undetected.

(B) Their manufacture and importation is facilitated by several well-known transnational organized crime rings based in strategic countries.--- The 4th para does say that crime rings have a hand in the supply chain of these products but it does not mention anything about their manufacture. So, I wouldn't go with this choice.

(C) They directly cause fatalities in many of the countries which import them without strict safety regulations.--- This is not talked about in the passage hence out of scope.

(D) Individuals who sell them in the U.S. know they are counterfeits.-- Again out of scope.

(E) The governments of countries in which they are manufactured do not take steps to prevent their export to the U.S.--- Out of scope

I hope this is correct.

Caught into B

jaiswalamrita wrote:Caught into B

(B) Their manufacture and importation is facilitated by several well-known transnational organized crime rings based in strategic countries.

seems sort of tricky but is easily eliminated if you go back and read the paragraph pertaining to crime rings...

"Furthermore, transnational organized crime rings and terrorist networks are major players in the international supply chain of pirated and counterfeit goods, presenting a major threat to national security. International piracy and counterfeiting are serious issues with grave ramifications beyond economic loss, and immediate steps must be taken to address and eliminate these issues"

This paragraph fails to mention specifics on the role these organizations play. It doesn't say that they manufacture, import or sell these goods- so you would not be able to guess here. They'll either say it or they won't. Since they don't overtly say that the crime rings manufacture or import (as they do in choice ) you can eliminate this option. You can also eliminate this option because there is no mention of their strategic placement.

Hope this helps!