|
Author |
Message |
|
TAGS:
|
|
|
Verbal GMAT Forum Moderator
Affiliations: PMI, ASQ
Joined: 16 Jun 2012
Posts: 114
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
Followers: 71
Kudos [?]:
307
[3] , given: 21
|
People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
 16 Sep 2012, 14:24
3
This post received
KUDOS
Question Stats:
61% (02:43) correct
38% (17:45) wrong based on 10 sessions
People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position should not bother to say, “I mean every word!” For either their position truly is ridiculous, in which case insisting that they are serious about it only exposes them to deeper embarrassment, or else their position has merit, in which case they should meet disbelief with rational argument rather than with assurances of their sincerity. Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above? (A) A practice that has been denounced as a poor practice should not be defended on the grounds that “this is how we have always done it.” If the practice is a poor one, so much the worse that it has been extensively used; if it is not a poor one, there must be a better reason for engaging in it than inertia. (B) People who are asked why they eat some of the unusual foods they eat should not answer, “because that is what I like.” This sort of answer will sound either naive or evasive and thus will satisfy no one. (C) People whose taste in clothes is being criticized should not reply, “Every penny I spent on these clothes I earned honestly.” For the issue raised by the critics is not how the money was come by but rather whether it was spent wisely. (D) Scholars who champion unpopular new theories should not assume that the widespread rejection of their ideas shows that they “must be on the right track.” The truth is that few theories of any consequence are either wholly right or wholly wrong and thus there is no substitute for patient work in ascertaining which parts are right. (E) People who set themselves goals that others denounce as overly ambitious do little to silence their critics if they say, “I can accomplish this if anyone can.” Rather, those people should either admit that their critics are right or not dignify the criticism with any reply.
_________________
Legendary Collections
1. 700 Level Quant 2. IIM Quant 3. 100 CR from LSAT 4. 100 Legendary SC 5. 5000 Practice problems 6.125 Quant 7. 38 SC 8. 10 Full Length GMAT Pen&Paper Tests
9. 1500+ RC 10. 100 Legendary CR 11. Additional Verbal Qs 12. Additional Quant Qs
My debrief |Free essay review initiative
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
Affiliations: SAE
Joined: 11 Jul 2012
Posts: 509
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Social Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
GPA: 3.5
WE: Project Management (Energy and Utilities)
Followers: 20
Kudos [?]:
86
[0], given: 262
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
16 Sep 2012, 21:52
Took me 6 minutes  Tough question indeed. Thanks for sharing. The answer is A. I started with the POE and in the end was left with A and E.
_________________
First Attempt 710 - first-attempt-141273.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 22 Jan 2012
Posts: 85
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
GMAT 1: Q39 V29
GPA: 3.3
WE: Engineering (Consulting)
Followers: 5
Kudos [?]:
21
[0], given: 6
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
16 Sep 2012, 23:17
A is the obvious answer... only option alligned with the argument.. Someting regards as X.... if X bla.. bla... , else ..bla.. bla... Option A has this structure and hence is the OA
_________________
Press +1 Kudos rather than saying thanks
which is more helpful infact..
Ill be posting good questions as many as I can...
Towards Success
|
|
|
|
|
|
Verbal GMAT Forum Moderator
Affiliations: PMI, ASQ
Joined: 16 Jun 2012
Posts: 114
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
Followers: 71
Kudos [?]:
307
[2] , given: 21
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
17 Sep 2012, 14:05
2
This post received
KUDOS
(A)The first step in this Parallel Reasoning question is to abstract from the specifics of the stimulus. In general terms, the stimulus provides a case in which a statement uttered in response to a particular situation is attacked as an ineffectual response; there are only two possible scenarios, and both expose the futility of the statement (if the original position is wrong, the given response would make matters look worse; if the position is right; the response does nothing to prove it). The parallel choice we’re looking for should therefore show that a given response shouldn’t be used because, whether the party under attack is right or wrong, the response is ineffective. We don’t have to look far. (A) says that when a practice has been denounced, it shouldn’t be defended by saying, “this is how we’ve always done it.” The reason for this is exactly parallel to the original’s “lose-lose” element: if the practice is a poor one, the response makes matters look even worse; if the practice is wise, the answer doesn’t provide good support for it. (A) fits the stimulus form to a T. (B) Unlike the stimulus, there’s no issue of the initial opinion being right or wrong. Instead of being presented with two cases where a person who eats strange foods is wrong or right to do so, we’re given two ways the response will sound unsatisfying. (C) also begins with a response people shouldn’t make, but instead of showing why the justification is pointless in the cases of the person being right and being wrong, the argument attacks the response for avoiding the issue. (D) again fails to show why the scholars’ response is no good whether they are right or wrong, implying instead that they are probably partly right and partly wrong. (E) fails because it recommends two better ways of responding (admission of error or silence), whereas the stimulus was primarily interested in describing why the original response was no good whether the original statement was right or wrong.
_________________
Legendary Collections
1. 700 Level Quant 2. IIM Quant 3. 100 CR from LSAT 4. 100 Legendary SC 5. 5000 Practice problems 6.125 Quant 7. 38 SC 8. 10 Full Length GMAT Pen&Paper Tests
9. 1500+ RC 10. 100 Legendary CR 11. Additional Verbal Qs 12. Additional Quant Qs
My debrief |Free essay review initiative
|
|
|
|
|
|
SVP
Status: 2000 posts! I don't know whether I should feel great or sad about it! LOL
Joined: 04 Oct 2009
Posts: 1756
Location: Peru
Schools: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT & HKS (Government)
WE 1: Economic research
WE 2: Banking
WE 3: Government: Foreign Trade and SMEs
Followers: 50
Kudos [?]:
145
[0], given: 108
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
17 Sep 2012, 14:54
+1 A The key in this type of questions is that you have to make an abstraction of the relationships among the parts of the argument. In other words, traduce in your words and in abstract terms what is happening in the original argument. In this case: If someone criticize you, don't say "X", because if they are right they will think you are dumb. If you 're right, there is a better argument than "X". I think I deserve kudos 
_________________
"Life’s battle doesn’t always go to stronger or faster men; but sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks he can."
My Integrated Reasoning Logbook / Diary: my-ir-logbook-diary-133264.html
Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Posts: 73
GMAT Date: 11-02-2012
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
3
[0], given: 17
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
02 Oct 2012, 11:52
Legendaddy wrote: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position should not bother to say, “I mean every word!” For either their position truly is ridiculous, in which case insisting that they are serious about it only exposes them to deeper embarrassment, or else their position has merit, in which case they should meet disbelief with rational argument rather than with assurances of their sincerity.
Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?
(A) A practice that has been denounced as a poor practice should not be defended on the grounds that “this is how we have always done it.” If the practice is a poor one, so much the worse that it has been extensively used; if it is not a poor one, there must be a better reason for engaging in it than inertia.
(B) People who are asked why they eat some of the unusual foods they eat should not answer, “because that is what I like.” This sort of answer will sound either naive or evasive and thus will satisfy no one.
(C) People whose taste in clothes is being criticized should not reply, “Every penny I spent on these clothes I earned honestly.” For the issue raised by the critics is not how the money was come by but rather whether it was spent wisely.
(D) Scholars who champion unpopular new theories should not assume that the widespread rejection of their ideas shows that they “must be on the right track.” The truth is that few theories of any consequence are either wholly right or wholly wrong and thus there is no substitute for patient work in ascertaining which parts are right.
(E) People who set themselves goals that others denounce as overly ambitious do little to silence their critics if they say, “I can accomplish this if anyone can.” Rather, those people should either admit that their critics are right or not dignify the criticism with any reply. Do we receive such kind of questions in GmAT.....can someone post any question from GMAT prep or official guide of the above kind?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 04 Feb 2012
Posts: 45
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GPA: 4
WE: Research (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
9
[0], given: 55
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
02 Oct 2012, 12:12
+1 A i did it in 2 mins...  kudos to myself...he he he!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Verbal GMAT Forum Moderator
Status: Preparing for the another shot...!
Joined: 03 Feb 2011
Posts: 1322
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
GMAT 1: 720 Q V
GPA: 3.75
Followers: 63
Kudos [?]:
311
[0], given: 52
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
15 Oct 2012, 05:53
Shouldn't the words of the stimulus be considered? In the stem, it says if x, then blah blah, and if y then they "should" blah blah. But none of the answer option considers this fact? I understand that abstraction makes it easier for us to choose A, but my question is why abstraction > intent? Help me understand the concept. I am pretty much naive in CR.
_________________
Prepositional Phrases Clarified|Elimination of BEING| Absolute Phrases Clarified
Rules For Posting
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 13 Oct 2012
Posts: 29
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
6
[0], given: 14
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
17 Oct 2012, 05:01
Legendaddy wrote: (A)The first step in this Parallel Reasoning question is to abstract from the specifics of the stimulus. In general terms, the stimulus provides a case in which a statement uttered in response to a particular situation is attacked as an ineffectual response; there are only two possible scenarios, and both expose the futility of the statement (if the original position is wrong, the given response would make matters look worse; if the position is right; the response does nothing to prove it). The parallel choice we’re looking for should therefore show that a given response shouldn’t be used because, whether the party under attack is right or wrong, the response is ineffective. We don’t have to look far. (A) says that when a practice has been denounced, it shouldn’t be defended by saying, “this is how we’ve always done it.” The reason for this is exactly parallel to the original’s “lose-lose” element: if the practice is a poor one, the response makes matters look even worse; if the practice is wise, the answer doesn’t provide good support for it. (A) fits the stimulus form to a T.
(B) Unlike the stimulus, there’s no issue of the initial opinion being right or wrong. Instead of being presented with two cases where a person who eats strange foods is wrong or right to do so, we’re given two ways the response will sound unsatisfying.
(C) also begins with a response people shouldn’t make, but instead of showing why the justification is pointless in the cases of the person being right and being wrong, the argument attacks the response for avoiding the issue.
(D) again fails to show why the scholars’ response is no good whether they are right or wrong, implying instead that they are probably partly right and partly wrong.
(E) fails because it recommends two better ways of responding (admission of error or silence), whereas the stimulus was primarily interested in describing why the original response was no good whether the original statement was right or wrong. Yes close to how I figured it out, thanks for putting it all down in words Legendaddy, now if I could just do this under 2:12 cause this kind of timing on the actual GMAT will hurt bad.... and OP what a question! Please share more such questions, great going kudos to both of you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 13 Oct 2012
Posts: 29
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
6
[0], given: 14
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
17 Oct 2012, 05:02
harkabir wrote: Legendaddy wrote: (A)The first step in this Parallel Reasoning question is to abstract from the specifics of the stimulus. In general terms, the stimulus provides a case in which a statement uttered in response to a particular situation is attacked as an ineffectual response; there are only two possible scenarios, and both expose the futility of the statement (if the original position is wrong, the given response would make matters look worse; if the position is right; the response does nothing to prove it). The parallel choice we’re looking for should therefore show that a given response shouldn’t be used because, whether the party under attack is right or wrong, the response is ineffective. We don’t have to look far. (A) says that when a practice has been denounced, it shouldn’t be defended by saying, “this is how we’ve always done it.” The reason for this is exactly parallel to the original’s “lose-lose” element: if the practice is a poor one, the response makes matters look even worse; if the practice is wise, the answer doesn’t provide good support for it. (A) fits the stimulus form to a T.
(B) Unlike the stimulus, there’s no issue of the initial opinion being right or wrong. Instead of being presented with two cases where a person who eats strange foods is wrong or right to do so, we’re given two ways the response will sound unsatisfying.
(C) also begins with a response people shouldn’t make, but instead of showing why the justification is pointless in the cases of the person being right and being wrong, the argument attacks the response for avoiding the issue.
(D) again fails to show why the scholars’ response is no good whether they are right or wrong, implying instead that they are probably partly right and partly wrong.
(E) fails because it recommends two better ways of responding (admission of error or silence), whereas the stimulus was primarily interested in describing why the original response was no good whether the original statement was right or wrong. Yes close to how I figured it out, thanks for putting it all down in words Legendaddy, now if I could just do this under 2:12 cause this kind of timing on the actual GMAT will hurt bad.... and OP what a question! Please share more such questions, great going kudos to both of you. Oh !! Legendaddy you are the OP!!! :D 2 kudos to you then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Posts: 73
GMAT Date: 11-02-2012
Followers: 1
Kudos [?]:
3
[0], given: 17
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
19 Oct 2012, 08:49
Legendaddy wrote: (A)The first step in this Parallel Reasoning question is to abstract from the specifics of the stimulus. In general terms, the stimulus provides a case in which a statement uttered in response to a particular situation is attacked as an ineffectual response; there are only two possible scenarios, and both expose the futility of the statement (if the original position is wrong, the given response would make matters look worse; if the position is right; the response does nothing to prove it). The parallel choice we’re looking for should therefore show that a given response shouldn’t be used because, whether the party under attack is right or wrong, the response is ineffective. We don’t have to look far. (A) says that when a practice has been denounced, it shouldn’t be defended by saying, “this is how we’ve always done it.” The reason for this is exactly parallel to the original’s “lose-lose” element: if the practice is a poor one, the response makes matters look even worse; if the practice is wise, the answer doesn’t provide good support for it. (A) fits the stimulus form to a T.
(B) Unlike the stimulus, there’s no issue of the initial opinion being right or wrong. Instead of being presented with two cases where a person who eats strange foods is wrong or right to do so, we’re given two ways the response will sound unsatisfying.
(C) also begins with a response people shouldn’t make, but instead of showing why the justification is pointless in the cases of the person being right and being wrong, the argument attacks the response for avoiding the issue.
(D) again fails to show why the scholars’ response is no good whether they are right or wrong, implying instead that they are probably partly right and partly wrong.
(E) fails because it recommends two better ways of responding (admission of error or silence), whereas the stimulus was primarily interested in describing why the original response was no good whether the original statement was right or wrong. Does GMAT ask such question? As I never saw any question of the above type in Official Guide?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Verbal GMAT Forum Moderator
Affiliations: PMI, ASQ
Joined: 16 Jun 2012
Posts: 114
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
Followers: 71
Kudos [?]:
307
[0], given: 21
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
19 Oct 2012, 09:27
vivekdixit07 wrote: Does GMAT ask such question? As I never saw any question of the above type in Official Guide? Parallel reasoning questions are rare animals in the GMAT jungle, and most people don't see it, no matter how well they might be doing.
_________________
Legendary Collections
1. 700 Level Quant 2. IIM Quant 3. 100 CR from LSAT 4. 100 Legendary SC 5. 5000 Practice problems 6.125 Quant 7. 38 SC 8. 10 Full Length GMAT Pen&Paper Tests
9. 1500+ RC 10. 100 Legendary CR 11. Additional Verbal Qs 12. Additional Quant Qs
My debrief |Free essay review initiative
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 48
Location: India
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
15
[0], given: 17
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position [#permalink]
27 Oct 2012, 10:25
Legendaddy wrote: vivekdixit07 wrote: Does GMAT ask such question? As I never saw any question of the above type in Official Guide? Parallel reasoning questions are rare animals in the GMAT jungle, and most people don't see it, no matter how well they might be doing. 01:47 minutes, was very straightforward for me...! 
_________________
The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position
[#permalink]
27 Oct 2012, 10:25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderators:
metallicafan, rajeevrks27, souvik101990, PTK, MacFauz, noboru, kissthegmat, carcass, willigetmylifeback, mikemcgarry, doe007, Vercules, Legendaddy, tuanquang269, RaviChandra, Marcab, Narenn
|
close
