A recent study indicates that people who keep their workout

A recent study indicates that people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout. Experts believe that many fail to achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn. One study followed a group of gym-members who reported that they could not achieve their fitness goals when burning 700 calories a day. The study found that the group burned, on average, 60% fewer calories than it claimed. In contrast, when people record their exercises, their actual calories burned more closely matches their reported calories burned.


A study proposes something,while experts BELIEVED in LINE with what study proposes.

Further, one example is quoted in green.One most important point in this example is that we don't know whether this GROUP recorded its goals or not.However, when we read the sentence in RED the keyword "In Contrast" makes it clear that the group mentioned in the example didn't record their track of exercising.



A) The first is an example illustrating the truth of a certain theory; the second is a competing theory. Second doesn't compete FIRST
B) The first is an explanation of why a certain theory is thought to be true; the second is an example of research results that support this theory. Correct !!!!
C) The first is a conclusion reached by experts; the second is evidence that that conclusion is correct. First is not conclusion reached by experts,they just believed in the theory doesn't mean that they have reached a conclusion.
D) The first introduces a theory that the experts have disproved; the second is the basis for the experts’ argument. EXPERTS are in-line with the FIRST
E) The first is a premise upon which the experts base their opinion; the second illustrates that their opinion is correct.
FIRST is not a PREMISE it is a BELIEF of which we have to base our opinion that we are with that BELIEF or against it.

So (B). it is !!

Plz Correct me if I am deviating somewhere.

Rgds,
TGC !!

For me its D. The argument its contrasting two different studies. whats the OA?

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

Explanation:
A) The first is an example illustrating the truth of a certain theory; the second is a competing theory.-- Wrong--the second bold statement is not a "theory" but a research result.
B) The first is an explanation of why a certain theory is thought to be true; the second is an example of research results that support this theory.-- Wrong-- First is not an explanation about the theory but the theory itself
C) The first is a conclusion reached by experts; the second is evidence that that conclusion is correct.-- Correct.
D) The first introduces a theory that the experts have disproved; the second is the basis for the experts’ argument. --Wrong-- Experts are proving the first theory bot disapproving it
E) The first is a premise upon which the experts base their opinion; the second illustrates that their opinion is correct. --Wrong

A recent study indicates that people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout. Experts believe that many fail to achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn. One study followed a group of gym-members who reported that they could not achieve their fitness goals when burning 700 calories a day. The study found that the group burned, on average, 60% fewer calories than it claimed. In contrast, when people record their exercises, their actual calories burned more closely matches their reported calories burned.

The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements?

I think B1 indicates the findings of a study or foundation/premise on which the rest of the argument is built

B2 is an example of how this finding may be right.

A) The first is an example illustrating the truth of a certain theory; the second is a competing theory. - The second is not a theory. Wrong
B) The first is an explanation of why a certain theory is thought to be true; the second is an example of research results that support this theory. The first is not an explanation, but rather a theory by itself. Wrong
C) The first is a conclusion reached by experts; the second is evidence that that conclusion is correct. - Experts did not conclude anything. They do however believe in the first part which is a premise/theory. Wrong.
D) The first introduces a theory that the experts have disproved; the second is the basis for the experts’ argument. - This is the polar opposite of what the experts believe. They do not disprove anything here. Wrong.
E) The first is a premise upon which the experts base their opinion; the second illustrates that their opinion is correct - Correct choice. The first is the backdrop of the argument. The second is a case to prove the experts are correct in believing this idea of keeping track of the calorie count..

IMO
What is the OA ?

C for me...

first is the conclusion and 2nd supports the conclusion.

Updated the post with OA and OE

A recent study indicates that people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout. Experts believe that many fail to achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn. One study followed a group of gym-members who reported that they could not achieve their fitness goals when burning 700 calories a day. The study found that the group burned, on average, 60% fewer calories than it claimed. In contrast, when people record their exercises, their actual calories burned more closely matches their reported calories burned.

The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements?

The conclusion of this argument is that “many people do not achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn.” The first boldface portion is a factual premise that there is an observed correlation between keeping a workout record and achieving fitness goal. This premise supports the experts’ conclusion. The second boldface portion is another supporting premise.

A) The first is an example illustrating the truth of a certain theory; the second is a competing theory.

The first boldface is a fact that supports the experts’ theory, but it does not illustrate the truth of that theory; however the second boldface does. The second boldface is a fact that supports the experts’ theory; it is not a competing theory.

B) The first is an explanation of why a certain theory is thought to be true; the second is an example of research results that support this theory.

The first boldface is a fact that supports the experts’ theory, but it does not explain why their conclusion is correct.

C) The first is a conclusion reached by experts; the second is evidence that that conclusion is correct.

The first boldface is not the conclusion; it is an observation, i.e. a fact. The second boldface is evidence that the experts’ conclusion is correct, but not the evidence that proves that the first boldface is correct.

D) The first introduces a theory that the experts have disproved; the second is the basis for the experts’ argument.

The first boldface is a factual statement, not a theory. Moreover, the first boldface supports the theory of the experts; it is not something they have disproved.

E) The first is a premise upon which the experts base their opinion; the second illustrates that their opinion is correct.

Correct. The first boldface is a basis for the experts’ conclusion that many fitness efforts fail because people burn fewer calories than they intended. The second boldface directly illustrates how fitness efforts of a certain group failed for the same reason.

I chose C but now i see why the question maker made E as OA.

However, I don't understand why the 1st boldface cannot also be a conclusion. It is almost stated in the passage when the passage uses the words "A studies suggests," and I assumed that the conclusion of this study was that "people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout."
If we take the first boldface as a conclusion then the second boldface should hold up as well which would mean C would also be correct.
I guess i should have considered "E" more. I was reluctant to pick C because the explanation of the 2nd boldface was "evidence that the conclusion is correct" seems like aggressive wording to me.

This is super tricky!

Hi Laserglare,

It is a delicate one...

I think the main difference, is that the bold statement is more empirical - it is the results of an experiment.

This is slightly different from a conclusion...

James

First of all very good question .

Let's analyze the question
A recent study indicates that "people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout."

A blind thumb rule is that any thing that follows a study or research work is a PREMISE.

Based upon this Premise, author forms his opinion .

BF2 : The study found that the group burned, on average, 60% fewer calories than it claimed.

Expert's opinion is that "Experts believe that many fail to achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn".

Therefore second BF proves that author/expert's opinion is correct .

Press Kudos if this helps you

Sorry , the OA is E, forgot to write in my previous post

GMATNinja can you help out with this one? I was not able to decipher the conclusion of the argument. For me, the boldface feels like a conclusion.

GMATNinja we need your help here.

In option A, it is written TRUTH of the certain theory. I know it os outwardly wrong, but what exactly is meant by TRUTH of theory?

In option D, it is mentioned 2nd BF is basis for expert's argument. Is it true? I know the second BF is surely supporting the Author's argument but can it be said that it is basis?
What would be the basis in this argument?

Mistakenly chose C over E.

I thought B1 is apparently a conclusion. But after reading the explanation above I found one thing I missed when working on the question. A conclusion is supported by each piece of information in the argument (except background or concession) and the final point of line of reasoning.

Look at the following 2 sentences:

S1: (B1) people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout.
S2: Experts believe that many fail to achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn.

Is S1 --> S2, or S2 --> S1?

The line of reasoning is: fail to achieve goal <-- burn fewer calories <-- did not track workout. S1 lies in front of S2 in the line of reasoning. So S1 cannot be the conclusion of the argument, but a premise supporting S2, the actual conclusion.

GMATNinja Bunuel KarishmaB please explain this ,isn't the answer C

Here is a OE I found:

Official Solution:

A recent study indicates that people who keep their workout records are far more successful at achieving their fitness goals than people who don’t keep track of their workout. Experts believe that many fail to achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn. One study followed a group of gym-members who reported that they could not achieve their fitness goals when burning 700 calories a day. The study found that the group burned, on average, 60% fewer calories than it claimed. In contrast, when people record their exercises, their actual calories burned more closely matches their reported calories burned.

The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements?

A. The first is an example illustrating the truth of a certain theory; the second is a competing theory.
B. The first is an explanation of why a certain theory is thought to be true; the second is an example of research results that support this theory.
C. The first is a conclusion reached by experts; the second is evidence that that conclusion is correct.
D. The first introduces a theory that the experts have disproved; the second is the basis for the experts’ argument.
E. The first is a premise upon which the experts base their opinion; the second illustrates that their opinion is correct.


The conclusion of this argument is that “many people do not achieve their fitness goals because they burn fewer calories than they intend to burn.”The first boldface portion is a factual premise that there is an observed correlation between keeping a workout record and achieving fitness goal. This premise supports the experts’ conclusion. The second boldface portion is another supporting premise, which provides a specific study indicating that people who do not keep a workout record burn far fewer calories than they realize.

1. The first boldface is a fact that supports the experts’ theory, but it does not illustrate the truth of that theory; however the second boldface does. The second boldface is a fact that supports the experts’ theory; it is not a competing theory.
2. The first boldface is a fact that supports the experts’ theory, but it does not explain why their conclusion is correct.
3. The first boldface is not the conclusion; it is an observation, i.e. a fact. The second boldface is evidence that the experts’ conclusion is correct, but not the evidence that proves that the first boldface is correct.
4. The first boldface is a factual statement, not a theory. Moreover, the first boldface supports the theory of the experts; it is not something they have disproved.
5. Correct. The first boldface is a basis for the experts’ conclusion that many fitness efforts fail because people burn fewer calories than they intended. The second boldface directly illustrates how fitness efforts of a certain group failed for the same reason.

Answer: E