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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: Lena: Single-use

1 2 3

adityaprateek15

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24 Dec 2025, 06:28

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BF1: This is a conclusion but not the main conclusion. BF1 is used to support the MC.

BF2: This is a premise. It's a piece of evidence offered to support the intermediate conclusion

A. Incorrect. BF2 is a premise, not the main conclusion.

B. Incorrect. This states the role in reverse order.

C. Incorrect. BF1 is a conclusion, not a premise.

D. Incorrect. BF1 is not the main conclusion. BF2 is a premise, not a conclusion.

E. Correct. This perfectly matches our initial analysis.

Bunuel

Lena: Single-use plastic bags should be banned in our state’s coastal towns. Over the last several years, the number of dead sea turtles found on local beaches has risen sharply. This increase is probably attributable, at least in part, to plastic bag litter. The use of plastic bags by shoppers has been growing steadily. Plastic bags often end up in the ocean, where turtles mistake them for jellyfish and ingest them.

In Lena’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is a conclusion for which support is offered, and itself is offered to support the second; the second is the main conclusion drawn in the argument.
B. The first is a premise offered to support the second; the second is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion.
C. The first is a premise offered to support the only conclusion drawn in the argument; so is the second.
D. The first is the main conclusion drawn in the argument; the second is another conclusion for which support is offered, and itself is offered to support the first.
E. The first is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise offered to support the first.

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MANASH94

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24 Dec 2025, 06:51

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Boldface 1 as per me is a premise (giving a factual observation about turtle deaths).
Boldface 2: Seems like and an intermediate conclusion

Lets analyze the choices:

A: Incorrect. The first is not a conclusion.
B: (Correct) The first is a premise (the data on dead turtles) offered to support the second (the claim that bags are the cause). The second is a conclusion, but it is not the main conclusion (which is the ban).
C: Incorrect. The second portion is an inference/claim, not a pure premise/fact.
D: Incorrect. The first is not the main conclusion.
E: Incorrect. The first is a premise, not a conclusion.

If my comprehension is correct answer should be B.

Bunuel

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Gmat860sanskar

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24 Dec 2025, 06:54

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Bunuel

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Stimulus :

Let's identify the role of both Boldface

Boldface 1 : This is intermediate conclusion of the argument. Main conclusion of the argument is the first line.

Boldface 2 : This is a premise which is used to support boldface 1

Let's move to options :

A : First is not support to second and second boldface is not conclusion --- Incorrect

B: First is not premise ---- Incorrect

C: The first is not premise --- Incorrect

D : As mentioned above first is intermediate conclusion not main ---- incorrect

E : Matches with our pre-thinking ---- Correct

Ans : E

Lizaza

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24 Dec 2025, 07:02

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Lena says: we use more and more plastic bags + turtles can ingest them in the sea + we see so many dead trtles on local beaches => these deaths must be connected to the plastic => we must ban the plastic.

Basically, there're three observations, one middle conclusion, and one final one; all of the evidences are directed in support of the conclusion.

The answer option that reflects exactly that is E, since it shows one of the bold parts as this mid-conclusion and highlights that the premise supports it. The answer is E.

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24 Dec 2025, 07:40

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Let's assess each statement:
A=> Second is not a conclusion. Eliminate.
B=> First is not a premise. Eliminate.
C=> First is not a premise. Eliminate.
D=> first is not the main concluision. Eliminate.
E=> correct=> First is an intermediate conclusion and second is a supporting premise,

redandme21

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24 Dec 2025, 07:46

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Main conclusion: "Single-use plastic bags should be banned in coastal towns". Because dead sea turtles are increasing due to plastic bag litter (conclusion, first bold) and this is because plastic bags end up in ocean (premise, second bold).

A No, second is not the main conclusion, it's a premise.

B No, first is not premise, it's a conclusion.

C No, first is not a premise.

D No, first is not the main conclusion.

E Correct. First boldface is an intermediate conclusion. Second boldface is a premise that supports first boldface.

IMO E

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24 Dec 2025, 08:04

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Bunuel

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Main Conclusion: Single-use plastic bags should be banned in our state’s coastal towns
Context: Over the last several years, the number of dead sea turtles found on local beaches has risen sharply.

Intermediate Conclusion: This increase is probably attributable, at least in part, to plastic bag litter.
Premises:
The use of plastic bags by shoppers has been growing steadily.
Plastic bags often end up in the ocean, where turtles mistake them for jellyfish and ingest them.

Bold face question each and every word must be true/find support.
A. The first is a conclusion for which support is offered, and itself is offered to support the second; the second is the main conclusion drawn in the argument.
first is not used to support second and second is most def not conclusion. Eliminate.
B. The first is a premise offered to support the second; the second is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion.
First not a premise. Eliminate.
C. The first is a premise offered to support the only conclusion drawn in the argument; so is the second.
First not a premise. Eliminate.
D. The first is the main conclusion drawn in the argument; the second is another conclusion for which support is offered, and itself is offered to support the first.
First is not the main conclusion. Eliminate.
E. The first is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise offered to support the first.
Yes, first is a intermediate conclusion. and second supports first. Keep
Correct Answer: E

geocircle

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24 Dec 2025, 08:06

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Second boldface -> supports -> First boldface -> supports -> Main conclusion (ban bags).

A No, the first boldface supports the main conclusion, not the second boldface.

B Wrong, first does not support second. It's the other way around.

C The first boldface is not offered as direct premise for main conclusion. It's a sub-conclusion.

D No, second is not a conclusion, it's a premise.

E Right answer. First boldface is an in between conclusion. Second boldface explains why bags cause turtle deaths, thus supporting the first boldface.

Answer E

gemministorm

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24 Dec 2025, 08:16

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Author's main argument - conclusion statement - author's stand - author's intent: Single-use plastic bags should be banned in our state's coastal towns.
both boldface are supporting this conclusion .
A,D,E - eliminate cause they say 1st is a conclusion.
B -> states 2nd is a conclusion - incorrect
C -> yes correct

topgmat25

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24 Dec 2025, 08:22

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A False. Second boldface is not main conclusion, main conclusion is ban bags.

B False. Second boldface is a factual statement supporting first, not a conclusion.

C First boldface is not a premise.

D False. Second is not a conclusion.

E The first bold statement is an intermediate conclusion, and the second bold statement is a premise offered to support it. Correct answer.

The answer is E

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24 Dec 2025, 08:24

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Context: There has been a sharp rise in dead sea turtles, which Lena links to plastic bag litter in the ocean
Conclusion: Single use plastic bags should be banned in the coastal town

BF1:This is an intermediate conclusion. lena is conclusing that plastic bags are a cause of the turtle deaths
BF2: This is a premise. This explains why plastic bag litter would cause turtle deaths and supports BF1

Evaluating options
A)Second is not main conclusion. BF1 does not support BF2. its the other way around
B)BF1 does not support BF2. BF2 is not a conclusion
C)BF1 is more than a premise. It is intermediate conclusion
D) BF1 is not the main conclusion. BF2 is not a conclusion
E) BF1 is a conclusion drawn but not the only conclusion. BF2 supports BF1. This is the correct choice

Hence E is the answer

Bunuel

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sanjitscorps18

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24 Dec 2025, 08:30

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Main conclusion - Single use plastics should be banned in our state's coastal towns.

A -> This is a conclusion, but it does not support the second. The second is not the main conclusion of the argument
B -> The first is a conclusion and not premise. The second part is not the conclusion, but support offered for the first boldface
C -> The first is a conclusion, and it does support the argument conclusion. The second supports the intermediate conclusion not the main one
D -> The first is not the main conclusion of the argument. The second is justification to support the first boldface.
E -> Correct. This is a conclusion but not the main conclusion. The second is premise offered for the first boldface.

Option E

Bunuel

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Reon

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24 Dec 2025, 08:31

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Lena: Single-use plastic bags should be banned in our state’s coastal towns. Over the last several years, the number of dead sea turtles found on local beaches has risen sharply. This increase is probably attributable, at least in part, to plastic bag litter. The use of plastic bags by shoppers has been growing steadily. Plastic bags often end up in the ocean, where turtles mistake them for jellyfish and ingest them.

The first bf is clearly an intermediate conclusion and it supports the main conclusion that Single-use plastic bags should be banned in our state’s coastal towns.
The second bf is a fact or evidence. It works as a premise and supports the intermediate conclusion.

In Lena’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is a conclusion for which support is offered, and itself is offered to support the second; the second is the main conclusion drawn in the argument.(The first bf doesn't support the second bf and second bf is not main conclusion) Wrong
B. The first is a premise offered to support the second; the second is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion. Wrong
C. The first is a premise offered to support the only conclusion drawn in the argument; so is the second. Wrong
D. The first is the main conclusion drawn in the argument; the second is another conclusion for which support is offered, and itself is offered to support the first. Wrong
E. The first is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise offered to support the first. (It is exactly what we were looking for. First bf is intermediate conclusion and not main conclusion and second is a premise) Correct

firefox300

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24 Dec 2025, 08:40

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A The second boldface is not the main conclusion.

B The first boldface is not a premise, it is a conclusion.

C There is more than one conclusion in the argument and the first boldface is not a premise.

D The second boldface is not a conclusion at all.

E CORRECT. The first boldface is a middle conclusion and the second boldface is premise supporting that conclusion.

The correct answer is E

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24 Dec 2025, 08:48

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S1 -> conclusion/argument. why? It's the author's belief
S2 -> evidence/premise. why? It relates to the fact

Eliminate the answer based on the analysis above.
A. S2 is not conclusion
B. S1 is not premise
C. S1 is not premise
D. S2 is not conclusion

So, the answer is E. S1 conclusion, S2. premise

Bunuel

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24 Dec 2025, 08:56

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First Boldface: This is an general intermediate conclusion as it draws an interference from multiple facts. It is used to justify the main conclusion of banning plastic bags
Second Boldface: It is a premise which explains the link between plastic bags and turtle deaths and. It is also seen to be support the first boldface.

A. Irrelevant as the second boldface isnt the main conclusion
B. Irrelevant as the first is a conclusion and not a premise, and the second is a premise and not a conclusion
C. Irrelevant as the first boldface is also a conclusion and there are multiple conclusions
D. Irrelevant as the first boldface is not the main coonclusion
E. Relevant as the first is a conclusion drawn in the argument but not the main conclusion, and the second is a premise offered to support the first

E

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24 Dec 2025, 08:59

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BF1: Is an intermediate conclusion, which supports the main conclusion that plastic bags should be banned
BF2: It is a fact given to support the intermediate conclusion and hence the main conclusion
Hence Answer (E)