BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Finding premises and conclusion

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:25 pm
by sureng » Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:15 am
Q: Extinction is a process that can depend on a variety of ecological, geographical, and physiological variables. These variables affect different species of organisms in different ways, and should, therefore, yield a random pattern of extinctions. However, the fossil record shows that extinction occurs in a surprisingly definite pattern, with many species vanishing at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, forms the best basis for at least a partial explanation of the patterned extinctions revealed by the fossil record?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Folks, i am trying to separate premises(P1,P2) and conclusion(C).

P1: Extinction depends on Eco,Geo & phys variables.
P2: P1 affects different organisms in different ways.

C: P1 & P2 leads to Random pattern of extinctions.

Counter Premise: fossil records show extinction in definite pattern

At this point after reading question stem i assume the above question as weaken conclusion type?

Did i arrived at the correct conclusion??
Pls. clarify..Should i just focus on question stem or do i need to focus on conclusion?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 299
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:27 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 9 times

by hey_thr67 » Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:33 am
To me it seems a paradox question. But the answer has to have a negative explanation instead of a positive one.Paradox questions often miss the link which we can observe here.

So the question is combination of the following,

1- Paradox question
2- Odd-one out.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pmFollowed by: 512 members
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:49 pm
This one is definitely a paradox question.

No weaken question, or strengthen for that matter will ever ask you to form an "explanation" the only thing that needs to be explained is a paradox.

With a paradox question there is no conclusion. There are two sides to the paradox. One side will not require much explanation (or else the argument will give you the basis for that explanation.

The other side of the paradox will not yet be explained - often the question stem will mention that this is what needs to be explained.

The two sides are usually separated by a transition word, in this case the word "however" is used.

The first part of the paradox - the part that is already explained in the argument leads to the idea that there should be "a random pattern of extinctions."

The part of the paradox that needs to be explained is the fact that the fossil record yields a "surprisingly definite pattern of extinctions." The question stem also mentions the second part as the part that needs to be explained. The correct answer will give a reason why the pattern of extinctions is definite and not random.

Hope that helps
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:25 pm

by sureng » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:58 pm
Thanks David. Excellent explanation and now i know what paradox means. I reread the paradox pattern in the CR book i have.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1