Many plant varieties used in industrially developed nations to improve cultivated crops come from lessdeveloped nations. No compensation is paid on the grounds that the plants used are "the common heritage of humanity." Such reasoning is, however,
flawed. After all, no one suggests that coal, oil, and ores should be extracted without payment.
Which of the following best describes an aspect of the method used by the author in the argument above?
A The author proceeds from a number of specific observations to a tentative generalization.
B The author applies to the case under discussion facts about phenomena assumed to be similar in some relevant respect.
C A position is strengthened by showing that the opposite of that position would have logically absurd consequences.
D A line of reasoning is called into question on the grounds that it confuses cause and effect in a causal relation.
E An argument is analyzed by separating statements of fact from individual value judgments.
Ans is B
I am very confused.
Thanks
khurram
CR- Question-Very confusing
This topic has expert replies
- Stuart@KaplanGMAT
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 3225
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm
- Location: Toronto
- Thanked: 1710 times
- Followed by:614 members
- GMAT Score:800
This is a very rare question type (a lot more common the LSAT, actually) sometimes called "method of argument". We're asked to describe HOW the author argues her point.khurram wrote:Many plant varieties used in industrially developed nations to improve cultivated crops come from lessdeveloped nations. No compensation is paid on the grounds that the plants used are "the common heritage of humanity." Such reasoning is, however,
flawed. After all, no one suggests that coal, oil, and ores should be extracted without payment.
Which of the following best describes an aspect of the method used by the author in the argument above?
Most of the time we can predict the answer to this kind of question. In this case, the author introduces a new example (coal, oil, ores) to try to prove her point. We generally call this technique "arguing by analogy". Our prediction is "using an unrelated example that the author thinks is similar to the scenario in question" (which is a long-winded way of saying "analogy").
Let's look at the choices:
The only answer in the ballpark is (b) and the tip off is "applies to the case facts about phenomena assumed to be similar" which is just a fancier way of phrasing our prediction. When we predict, we always want to keep our prediction simple and general, because it's much easier to go from a general prediction to a complicated worded answer than vice-versa.A The author proceeds from a number of specific observations to a tentative generalization.
B The author applies to the case under discussion facts about phenomena assumed to be similar in some relevant respect.
C A position is strengthened by showing that the opposite of that position would have logically absurd consequences.
D A line of reasoning is called into question on the grounds that it confuses cause and effect in a causal relation.
E An argument is analyzed by separating statements of fact from individual value judgments.
Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto
Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:33 am
- Thanked: 10 times
Stuart,Stuart Kovinsky wrote: Most of the time we can predict the answer to this kind of question. In this case, the author introduces a new example (coal, oil, ores) to try to prove her point. We generally call this technique "arguing by analogy". Our prediction is "using an unrelated example that the author thinks is similar to the scenario in question" (which is a long-winded way of saying "analogy").
Is was wondering if there is a list of common argument patterns that GMAC uses for such questions. For example, this question used an analogy to argue, likewise are there other patterns that one can identify and therefore predict the answer based on the argument pattern.
Thanks,
Ramesh
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:39 am
- Thanked: 4 times
- Followed by:1 members
That would really help.
Otherwise, being a non native speaker, not used to this type, I am like what did I just read here.
I guess one way would be to do X and Y simplification.
Khurram
Otherwise, being a non native speaker, not used to this type, I am like what did I just read here.
I guess one way would be to do X and Y simplification.
Khurram
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:58 am