A village's ordinances require residents to exercise reasonable care

Question

A village's ordinances require residents to exercise reasonable care to avoid disturbing their neighbors with noise. The village council may impose fines for noise violations in response to formal complaints. But unless there have been formal complaints from multiple residents, the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or with the violator's landlord if the violator is a renter. The council's first action in response to any formal verbal or written complaint that they are considering will be to offer to mediate the dispute.

Select for 1 and for 2 two different events such that the guidelines most clearly indicate that if the event selected for 1 occurs, then the event selected for 2 either will occur or has already occurred. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Select for 1 and for 2 two different events such that the guidelines most clearly indicate that if the event selected for 1 occurs, then the event selected for 2 either will occur or has already occurred. Make only two selections, one in each column.

ID: 700240

MartyMurray · Accepted Answer

A village's ordinances require residents to exercise reasonable care to avoid disturbing their neighbors with noise. The village council may impose fines for noise violations in response to formal complaints. But unless there have been formal complaints from multiple residents, the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or with the violator's landlord if the violator is a renter. The council's first action in response to any formal verbal or written complaint that they are considering will be to offer to mediate the dispute.

Select for 1 and for 2 two different events such that the guidelines most clearly indicate that if the event selected for 1 occurs, then the event selected for 2 either will occur or has already occurred. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Select for  1  and for  2  two different events such that the guidelines most clearly indicate that if the event selected for  1  occurs, then the event selected for  2  either will occur or has already occurred. Make only two selections, one in each column.

An effecient way to answer this question is to check each choice as a possible answer for  1  by seeing for each choice whether one of the other choices has occurred or will occur, and thus is the answer for  2 .

In going through the choices, we have to be super careful since there will likely be trap choices that are close to correct or seem correct for some reason. So, we have to make sure that the answer for  2  will for sure have happened or happen if  1  happens.

The council imposes a fine for noise violation.

Scanning the passage for "imposes a fine," we don't see anything that will happen afterward.

We do see that the council "may impose fines for noise violations in response to formal complaints." However, "The council considers a formal written noise complaint" does not have to have happened before "The council imposes a fine for a noise violation" because the passage mentions a "formal  verbal or written  complaint." So, before the council imposes a fine, the councial may consider a formal verbal complaint and not a written one.

Eliminate for  1 .

The council considers a formal written noise complaint.

Scanning the passage for "considers a formal written noise complaint," we see in the passage "the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or with the violator's landlord if the violator is a renter."

So, before the council considers a complaint, two things could have occurred: the complaining individual has attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or the complaining individual has attempted to resolve the issue with the violator's landlord if the violator is a renter.

So, it's not certain that before "The council considers a formal written noise complaint, "The complaining individual attempts to resolve the issue with the alleged violator," because the complaining indivdual could have attempteod to resolve the complaint with the landlord instead.

At the same time, regarding "The council considers a formal written noise complaint," we also see the following in the passage: "The council's first action in response to any formal verbal or written complaint that they are considering  will be  to offer to mediate the dispute."

So, the next choice, "The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise,"  will  for sure occur after "The council considers a formal written noise complaint."

Thus, "The council considers a formal written noise complaint," works for  1  and "The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise," works for  2 .

We can now check the other choices to confirm that no others work for  1  and  2  to ensure that we've chosen the correct answers.

The complaining individual attempts to resolve the issue with the alleged violator.

This choice does not work for  1  because the passage doesn't mention anything that has happened before this and because the passage does not mention anything that will for sure happen after this. After all, the passage says only that "the council will  not  consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator."

The fact that the council the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue does not mean that the council will for sure consider the complaint if the complaining individual has attempted to resolve the issue.

Eliminate for  1 .

The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.

This choice does not work for 1 because the passage does not say that the council will offer to mediate a dispute only if something else has happened, and the passage does not say what will happen after the council offers to mediate a dispute.

Eliminate for  1 .

The complaining individual contacts the alleged violator's landlord.

This choice doesn't say anything that has happened before a complaining individual contacts the landlord, and also, the passage doesn't say anything that will for sure happen after the individual contacts the landlord. It says only that "the council will  not  consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly ... with the violator's landlord." The fact that the council will not consider a complaint if the individual has not contacted the landlord does not mean that the council will consider if it the individual has contacted the landlord.

Eliminate for  1 .

Correct answer:  The council considers a formal written noise complaint., The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.

GMATCoachBen · Answer

apoorvmht  Thanks for posting.

I think there's a mistake in the question -- the choices for B and C are the same above.

C should say: "The complaining individual attempts to resolve the issue with the alleged violator"

Here's a screenshot of this problem, from the "GMAT Official Guide Data Insights Review 2023-2024".

It's probably better to tag the question as "Source: Official Guide" instead of "Source: GMAT Prep (Focus)"

chetan2u · Answer

Let us break down the question.

A village's ordinances require residents to exercise reasonable care to avoid disturbing their neighbors with noise. The village council may impose fines for noise violations in response to formal complaints. =>  Fines possible for formal complaints

But unless there have been formal complaints from multiple residents, the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or with the violator's landlord if the violator is a renter. =>
 Multiple complaints - council will consider the complaint
Single complainant - Complainant should have tried to resolve the dispute directly with alleged violator/violatir's landlord.

The council's first action in response to any formal verbal or written complaint that they are considering will be to offer to mediate the dispute. =>
 Any formal verbal or written complaint - council offer to mediate.

Select for 1 and for 2 two different events such that the guidelines most clearly indicate that if the event selected for 1 occurs, then the event selected for 2 either will occur or has already occurred.

The council imposes a fine for noise violation. ----  This is the likely final outcome if not resolved. . Can fit in as 1

The council considers a formal written noise complaint.------ TRAP for 2. The complaint need not be just WRITTEN, it could be VERBAL too. ...Could be 1 if 2 states that a formal complaint is made... But no other options fit in as 2...Discard

The complaining individual attempts to resolve the issue with the alleged violator ------ This is one of the initial steps, so could fit in as 2. But it is not the only step, the complaint could be by multiple people or the violator could be someone staying on rent. .....Discard

The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.------  This is the first response by council on a formal complaint, be it verbal or written ... This would surely occur. It could be condition 2 for any future outcomes such as a fine for noise violation. It could also be condition 1 for any previous conditions.

The complaining individual contacts the alleged violator's landlord.-----  Same as option 3 above

Condition 1: The council imposes a fine for noise violation.
Condition 2: The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.

Bhavya_BD12 , hope it clears your query.

AvikSaha · Answer

Hi  chetan2u ,
 MartyMurray 
Why it can't be 
Condition 1 - The council imposes a fine for noise violation 
& Condition 2 - The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise

OR
Condition 1- The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.
Condition 2- The council considers a formal written noise complaint.

chetan2u · Answer

Condition 1 - The council imposes a fine for noise violation 
& Condition 2 - The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise
 The above can surely happen. If the council imposed a fine, surely they would have gone through the first step of offering to mediate after considering a formal complaint.

Condition 1- The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.
Condition 2- The council considers a formal written noise complaint.
 Here, The council has offered to mediate. Is it necessary that they have acted on a formal WRITTEN complaint, it could just be a formal VERBAL complaint.  
So, need not be true.

AvikSaha · Answer

Thanks  chetan2u

Got it!
As you said 1st example(below) can happen.
Condition 1 - The council imposes a fine for noise violation
& Condition 2 - The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise

But I see the official correct answer is ::
Condition 1 - The council considers a formal written noise complaint.
Condition 2 - The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise

Can you please let me know where I am going wrong & not getting it

chetan2u · Answer

Hi Avik

The OA says, a formal written complaint has been considered, so if you take this as condition 1, surely the first action after considering, which is offer to mediate, would also happen. So, condition 2 will occur.

Now the answer that could also be correct, fine has been imposed on a noise violation, so the first action, offer to mediate has already occurred. 
 Only problem in this could be that it doesn’t speak of formal complaint. Maybe, fine was imposed on violation but no formal complaint was made.

So, I would choose the OA over this set of conditions, but would easily choose this too, if option 2 was not given.

Engineer1 · Answer

chetan2u   MartyMurray  Can you help me understand what is wrong with it? Thanks!

Cond 1: The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.
Cond 2: The complaining individual attempts to resolve the issue with the alleged violator.

chetan2u · Answer

Cond 1: The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise.
 So this condition happens.

Cond 2: The complaining individual attempts to resolve the issue with the alleged violator.
 Is it necessary for this condition to happen. It could be that there were multiple complaints by residents.  
In that case, condition 1 would happen without this condition happening.

manasp35 · Answer

MartyMurray   KarishmaB  How about A,D as the choice. If fine impose occurs, then council must have mediated the dispute because mediating the dispute is the first step made by council.

KarishmaB · Answer

Given: The council's first action in response to any formal verbal or written complaint that they are considering will be to offer to mediate the dispute. "if the event selected for 1 occurs, then the event selected for 2 either will occur or has already occurred." So if the council considers a formal written noise complaint, then "the council offers to mediate a dispute about noise" will occur or has already occured (depending on where the council is in its consideration process) ANSWER: 2nd and 4th sentences manasp35 I agree that 1st and 4th sentences sound reasonable too. There were two reasons I didn't like that as much as the answer. 1. It doesn't fit perfectly in what is given: So if "the council imposes a fine for noise violation," then "the council offers to mediate a dispute about noise" will occur or has already occured. The highlighted doesn't work here. I am not sure if what we choose must work with both "will occur" and "has already occured" or if it can work with either. Hence, the answer given above works in all cases. 2. Given: "But unless there have been formal complaints from multiple residents, the council will not consider a complaint if ..." The council may consider a complaint if there have been formal complaints from multiple residents. Will it offer to mediate in that case too? Most likely yes but I am a bit uncomfortable with it. The last sentence could be talking about individual complaints, I am not sure. I have a better, clear answer answer so might as well pick that. Check out this video to know how to handle conditional statements such as "unless X, Y": https://youtu.be/BW8Ijrhjjq8

manasp35 · Answer

Thank you  KarishmaB  , the explanation helped me (especially the point one) 
The option 2 needs to satisfy both. (will occur or has already occurred)

PReciSioN · Answer

Just because the  "council may impose fines for noise violations in response to formal complaints.",  doesn't mean that it is the only way that the council imposes fines for noise violations. Perhaps it makes it's independent inquiries and imposes fines for noise violation without any complaints.

PReciSioN · Answer

This implies that if there are multiple complaints, then the council may (or may not) consider a complaint even if individuals have not attempted direct resolution with violator or with landlord. Multiple complaints does not guarantee a consideration right?

Right? MartyMurray KarishmaB avigutman

Right?  MartyMurray   KarishmaB   avigutman

KarishmaB · Answer

Yes, "multiple complaints" does not guarantee a consideration. "Unless" gives you a necessary condition, not sufficient.

ashutosh_73 · Answer

Hi  KarishmaB   GMATGuruNY   avigutman 
 
Can i write guidelines structure as below in terms of logical structure? It seems wrong but i am not sure why? How do we diagram the structure?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or with the violator's landlord ---> the council will not consider a complaint ---> UNLESS there have been formal complaints from multiple residents
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, why 1-A, 2-D aren't the apt options? There have been several discussions in previous posters, but i couldn't understand them. Please help.

If council imposes a fine for noise violation, then The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise  is quite in line with the guideline:  ''if the event selected for 1 occurs, then the event selected for 2 either will occur or has already occurred''

manasp35 · Answer

We are given :  The village council may impose fines for noise violations in response to formal complaints.  
Meaning: 
after a formal complaint is made -----> the council may impose fines

We are also given :  The council's first action in response to any formal verbal or written complaint that they are considering will be to offer to mediate the dispute.

Meaning:
first action after a formal complaint is made -----> council offer to mediate the dispute

Combining both

after a formal complaint is made -----> council offer to mediate the dispute --------> the council may impose fines

Can we be sure 100% ,  if the council imposes fines then council offer to mediate the dispute ?

There could be other path through which council may impose fines. For instance, the council investigated on its own without any formal complaints.

council investigated -------->  the council imposes fines

If the council imposes fine, we can't guarantee that the council must have offered to mediate.

KarishmaB · Answer

As for your first question: Unless X, Y

Keep in mind that this structure means "X" is necessary for "Not Y"

So " unless there have been formal complaints from multiple residents, the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly with the alleged violator or with the violator's landlord if the violator is a renter."

is equivalent to

"Formal complaints from multiple residents" is necessary for the council to consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly

So the council will not consider a complaint if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly.
But if multiple residents give a formal complaint, the council MAY consider the complaint even if the complaining individual has not attempted to resolve the issue directly.

Your second question has been answered by  manasp35  very well above so I will not repeat it.

pearrrrrrr · Answer

Hi  chetan2u

the instruction "if the event selected for  1  occurs, then the event selected for  2  either  will  occur or  has already  occurred." made me feel that the answers on both column can be swap because it's possible to say that Event "The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise" occurs, then the event "The council considers a formal written noise complaint"  has already  occurred.

your explanation is appreciated

is it because "The council considers a formal    written    noise complaint" event is not necessary  to have already  occurred before Event "The council offers to mediate a dispute about noise" occurs. It can be just    verbal    noise compliant. Correct?

A village's ordinances require residents to exercise reasonable care

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A village's ordinances require residents to exercise reasonable care

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