Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 15:51 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 15:51
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,289
Own Kudos:
49,290
 [5]
Given Kudos: 6,179
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 17,289
Kudos: 49,290
 [5]
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has re Updated on: 30 Sep 2023, 12:40
Originally posted by Sajjad1994 on 23 Feb 2021, 23:30.
Last edited by BottomJee on 30 Sep 2023, 12:40, edited 3 times in total.
Moved to new forum
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide Answer
Hide
Show
History
Role of 1st
bold portion: States a position that the argument as a whole opposes. Role of 2nd
bold portion: States the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

45% (medium)

Question Stats:

66% (01:53) correct 34% (02:24) wrong based on 785 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has recently claimed that the project is failing to meet its goals, citing the builder's failure to deliver milestones on time and to stay within a reasonable budget. While it is typically expected that politicians will bemoan projects that do not support their political agenda, in this case, this stance is clearly unjustified. It is true that the builders of the rail project are late on milestones and over the original budget amounts. However, this does not mean that the project is failing to meet its goals of providing superior mass transit options to the people. On the other hand, the budget and time overruns can be entirely attributable to the decision to install recently-available upgrades to the already-completed sections of rail that will increase the speed and efficiency of the system once it is complete.

In the table, select the statement that describes the role of the first bold portion and select the statement that describes the role of the second bold portion. Make two selections, one in each column.
Role of 1st
bold portion 		Role of 2nd
bold portion
Evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes.
Evidence provided to undermine the support for the position being opposed.
Evidence provided to support the position of the argument as a whole.
States a position that the argument as a whole opposes.
States the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
Submit Answer
Start the Timer above, select the radio buttons, and click "Submit" to add this question to your Error log.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
Role of 1st
bold portion: States a position that the argument as a whole opposes. Role of 2nd
bold portion: States the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
User avatar
rvgmat12
User avatar
Joined: 19 Oct 2014
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 356
Own Kudos:
373
Given Kudos: 189
Location: United Arab Emirates
Schools: Wharton '23 Booth '23 INSEAD Jan'21 Intake
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Wharton '23 Booth '23 INSEAD Jan'21 Intake
Posts: 356
Kudos: 373
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has re 23 Feb 2021, 23:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
First boldface - Politician's conclusion which is opposed by the argument

Second boldface - Argument's conclusion as a whole

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,289
Own Kudos:
49,290
Given Kudos: 6,179
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 17,289
Kudos: 49,290
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has re 28 Feb 2021, 00:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
OA is posted

Role of 1st bold portion: States a position that the argument as a whole opposes.
Role of 2nd bold portion: States the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

Thank you
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,289
Own Kudos:
49,290
Given Kudos: 6,179
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 17,289
Kudos: 49,290
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has re 15 Mar 2022, 10:41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Official Explanation

Role of 1st bold portion: D
Role of 2nd bold portion: E

Solution: It should be clear that neither statement is evidence, but rather that both are positions/conclusions. This should allow you to quickly eliminate the first three choices. The first statement is the politician’s position, which is then refuted by the rest of the paragraph, so from that you can conclude that this is a position that the overall argument opposes. And the argument does go on to support the second bolded portion, which directly opposes the first. Both of these clues should lead you directly to answer choice E for the second column.
avatar
MT1302
avatar
Joined: 10 Jan 2023
Last visit: 05 Dec 2024
Posts: 95
Own Kudos:
719
 [2]
Given Kudos: 36
Location: India
Posts: 95
Kudos: 719
 [2]
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has re 15 Mar 2024, 04:00
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Sajjad1994
A politician who has been opposed to the new metro rail project has recently claimed that the project is failing to meet its goals, citing the builder's failure to deliver milestones on time and to stay within a reasonable budget. While it is typically expected that politicians will bemoan projects that do not support their political agenda, in this case, this stance is clearly unjustified. It is true that the builders of the rail project are late on milestones and over the original budget amounts. However, this does not mean that the project is failing to meet its goals of providing superior mass transit options to the people. On the other hand, the budget and time overruns can be entirely attributable to the decision to install recently-available upgrades to the already-completed sections of rail that will increase the speed and efficiency of the system once it is complete.

In the table, select the statement that describes the role of the first bold portion and select the statement that describes the role of the second bold portion. Make two selections, one in each column.
Show more
­The fastest way to solve Bold-face questions is to the classify the individual bold face Statements as either Fact or Conclusion.

St -1 : As soon as you start reading the argument , Author has explicitly mentioned just before the 1st boldface that it is a Claim.  
Claim = Opinion/Position
Immediately scan through the a.c. and see first 3 options mentioning "St-1" as a Evidence. An Evidence = Fact .
An opinion or a claim is not a fact. Eliminate A,B & C. Now it is easier for you to deal with only 2 options.

So you are left with only 2 options D & E. 

As you read further, you find the use of word "However". This means author is introducing a contrast.

St - 2 : "this stance is clearly unjustified" . This is a opinion you can pretty easily identify it. 
So , St-2 is also an opinion.

When you read further you clearly see St-1 is being refuted by the author . So, St-1 is option choice D.
& St-2 is option choice E.

You can do it in less than 2 minutes. Just by this process. You don't have to even get lost in a.c. saying evidence , premise , claim, position and scratch your head.

Hope it helps.­
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
105355 posts
kingbucky
496 posts