Critical Reasoning

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.

I was between A and B. I know OA and on the real test I would guess...
But I want to understand...

What is the difference between inference and conclusion?
What does gmat mean using part of evidence and pre-evidence?

could you pls post the OA

IMO it should be E

ranell wrote: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.

IMO A)

IMO A

the second boldfaced is a conclusion by using the indicator so

option A is the only choice that supports that.

IMO A

second Bold face sent. : Argument conclusion.

would appreciate, if some one explain the diff between conclusion and inference ...

wishkaro wrote:IMO A

second Bold face sent. : Argument conclusion.

would appreciate, if some one explain the diff between conclusion and inference ...

Infer vs Conclusion

In the literal sense, both mean the same and there is a very thin line

However, conclusion is present in the argument and is given by the author

Infer: No new information. It is a must true statement based on the premises and may also be a combination of premises.
It is a conclusion that must be true based on premises.

In the above qs, difference between infer and conclusion is not imp as the answer is derived through another method. We can assume both to be the same.

However the difference between both of them is very crucial in a strengthen/assumption qs vis a vis infer qs. When the conclusion is in the qs stem, it is a strengthen/ assumption qs and when the conclusion is in the answer choice, it is a infer qs.

More thoughts on the same welcome.

Cheers
Turbo Jet

Choice C, D and E gets eliminated because 2nd Boldface is a conclusion/inference
Tip: Trigger word for conclusion/inference: So

Btw Choice A and B ,2nd Boldface is correct. However A gets eliminated because 1st Boldface is a part of evidence. (Note the part after semicolon is a very strong premise/evidence of the conclusion/inference)

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


The second part of the sentence is a prime premise/evidence that supports the conclusion/inference ( 2nd Boldface)

Therefore correct answer is B.



Tips for identifying the premise and conclusion

1. Premise: Ask the qs what does the author want me to believe/ What are the reasons & evidences the author has to pursuade me.
Trigger Words: Bec, since, for, for eg, for the reason that, In that, Given that, as indicated by, due to, owing to, this can be seen from, we know this by, etc


2. Conclusion: Ask yourself what does the author want me to believe?
Trigger words: Thus, Therefore, Hence, Consequently, Aas a result, So, Accordingly, Clearly, Must be that, Shows That, Concludes that, follows that, for this reason, etc



Cheers
Turbo Jet

OA is B

ranell wrote:OA is B

Thanks Ranell for the great post. It really was a true brain racker that got us all confused. I hope the revised explanation helps.

Hi Ranell.Can you please mention the source.The OA 'B' is highly doubtful as the second boldface is definitely the conclusion.
The trigger word in this case is 'So'.
Therefore , the OA clearly should be A.

I agree, the answer should be A, because it is the conclusion that is part of the passage. Inference is something that is drawn from the passage.

First boldface is like a background, what used to happen in early days. The semi colon after the boldface supports this becuase the main argument is not direclly related to the first boldface.

Can someone please throw some more light?

Thanks,

Vineet

highly confused...
basically second bold face..is an inference if it's not included in the passage..
but since it's included so it can't be an inference....
it could be author's inference so we can't deny it from being inference..

first bold face is clearly a part of evidence..
it can't be used fully to start the argument something else should have to be with it...
as "In early days, people seldom received unsolicited email advertisement;"
but nowadays etc etc...

i would go with "b"..as second bold face is an author's inference...not ours...it's not conclusion.....

Experts, please explain what is the difference between "background" and "evidence" in the case of Critical reasoning questions.. please refer to the question above for this or give a separate example to elaborate..

The second bold statement is definitely not an inference. An inference is an unstated premise. Basically something that is stated in between the lines but not explicitly mentioned a statement. "So, relevant anti-spam regulations should be framed to stop unsolicited advertising." is a statement that cannot be inferred from the premises provided. It is rather the conclusion that the author arrives at. Hence I would go for option (A)