Critical Reasoning

The goal in any BOLDFACE question is to deconstruct the argument, and determine the role of each statement:

- author's conclusion / position
- reasoning that supports the author's position
- the counterpoint / what others believe
- support for the counterpoint
- neutral / background information / establishing phenomenon

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Let's break down this argument:

Conclusion:
Clearly, the number of new jobs created this year will fall short of last year's record.

Reasoning:
Generally accepted facts:
- any new manufacturing job is created either within an existing company or by the start-up of a new company.

Relevant evidence in this case:
- Within existing firms, new jobs have been created this year at well below last year's record pace.
- the number of new companies starting up will be no higher this year than it was last year
- there is no reason to think that the new companies starting up this year will create more jobs per company than did last year's start-ups.

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Now, we label the boldface portions according to this breakdown:

Boldface 1: "any new manufacturing job is created either within an existing company or by the start-up of a new company."
= a generally accepted fact that the author will use to connect the relevant facts about this year to their overall conclusion.

Boldface 2: "the number of new jobs created this year will fall short of last year's record. "
= the author's conclusion (opinion)

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Tip for boldface questions: When looking at answer choices, just look at the 1st part first, and eliminate answers. Then look at the 2nd part of the answers that remain.

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Looking at just the 1st part of each answer choice, we're looking for = a generally accepted fact used to support the overall conclusion.

A. The first is presented as an obvious truth on which the argument is based...
Sure, sounds good.

B. The first is presented as an obvious truth on which the argument is based...
Same here.

C. The first and the second each provide evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
This isn't specific evidence, it's a general truism. Eliminate C.

D. The first is a generalization that the argument seeks to establish...
Nope, it's already taken to be established. Eliminate D.

E. The first is a generalization that the argument seeks to establish...
Ditto. Eliminate E.

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Now that we have eliminated C, D, and E, we only have to look at the 2nd parts of A and B. We're looking for Boldface 2:
= the author's conclusion (opinion)

A. ...the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Exactly.

B. ...the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument.
Nope, the 2nd is the main conclusion. Eliminate B.

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The answer is A.

For more on using this strategy for BOLDFACE questions on CR, see:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/journalist- ... 06075.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/most-of-wes ... tml#823603
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-offici ... tml#818265
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-offici ... tml#818059
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-offici ... tml#818656
https://www.beatthegmat.com/although-th ... tml#821876
https://www.beatthegmat.com/og-2018-cr- ... tml#796614