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Joined: 01 Sep 2016
Posts: 125
Given Kudos: 33
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
Aeronautical engineer: Often when a person is disappointed that a soci
[#permalink]
Updated on: 19 Aug 2017, 01:58
Updated on: 19 Aug 2017, 01:58
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36
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A
B
C
D
E
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
42% (02:23) correct
58%
(02:17)
wrong
based on 963
sessions
Aeronautical engineer: Often when a person is disappointed that a social issue has not been solved, she will say “we can put a man on the moon, but we cannot…” and then mention that issue. What these people overlook is that landing a man on the moon is a much less complicated task than they realize. The moon travels a fixed, predictable orbit and obeys the laws of physics. Landing a man on the moon only required scientists to synchronize two objects, the moon and the space shuttle. Many social issues are far more complex than putting a man on the moon, as they require the synchronizations of millions of people and their competing interests.
In the aeronautical engineer’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
a) The first is the conclusion of the argument; the second is evidence for that conclusion.
b) The first offers a belief that undermines a commonly held view; the second provides justification for that commonly held view.
c) The first outlines the author’s unconventional stance on an issue; the second provides justification for that stance.
d) The first is an opinion that the author uses to undermine a commonly held view; the second is the author's conclusion.
e) The first is a belief that the author uses in support of his conclusion; the second is evidence that supports that conclusion.
In the aeronautical engineer’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
a) The first is the conclusion of the argument; the second is evidence for that conclusion.
b) The first offers a belief that undermines a commonly held view; the second provides justification for that commonly held view.
c) The first outlines the author’s unconventional stance on an issue; the second provides justification for that stance.
d) The first is an opinion that the author uses to undermine a commonly held view; the second is the author's conclusion.
e) The first is a belief that the author uses in support of his conclusion; the second is evidence that supports that conclusion.
Originally posted by bkpolymers1617 on 18 Aug 2017, 08:19.
Last edited by bkpolymers1617 on 19 Aug 2017, 01:58, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by bkpolymers1617 on 19 Aug 2017, 01:58, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Aeronautical engineer: Often when a person is disappointed that a soci
[#permalink]
19 Aug 2017, 01:49
19 Aug 2017, 01:49
11
Kudos
The issue is landing a man on the moon is difficult but solving a social problem is not very complicated.The first bold face mentions the author's stance on the issue.The stance is not a stance held by people taken if we go by the meaning literally. So the author's stand is unconventional .The second bold face supports the author's opinion stating that millions of people need to be synchronised with their competing interests for solving social issues. These two points are nicely brought about by option C and so C is the best answer.Please give me kudos. I need them badly.
Re: Aeronautical engineer: Often when a person is disappointed that a soci
[#permalink]
19 Jun 2019, 00:17
19 Jun 2019, 00:17
5
Kudos
Expert Reply
bkpolymers1617 wrote:
Aeronautical engineer: Often when a person is disappointed that a social issue has not been solved, she will say “we can put a man on the moon, but we cannot…” and then mention that issue. What these people overlook is that landing a man on the moon is a much less complicated task than they realize. The moon travels a fixed, predictable orbit and obeys the laws of physics. Landing a man on the moon only required scientists to synchronize two objects, the moon and the space shuttle. Many social issues are far more complex than putting a man on the moon, as they require the synchronizations of millions of people and their competing interests.
In the aeronautical engineer’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
a) The first is the conclusion of the argument; the second is evidence for that conclusion.
b) The first offers a belief that undermines a commonly held view; the second provides justification for that commonly held view.
c) The first outlines the author’s unconventional stance on an issue; the second provides justification for that stance.
d) The first is an opinion that the author uses to undermine a commonly held view; the second is the author's conclusion.
e) The first is a belief that the author uses in support of his conclusion; the second is evidence that supports that conclusion.
In the aeronautical engineer’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
a) The first is the conclusion of the argument; the second is evidence for that conclusion.
b) The first offers a belief that undermines a commonly held view; the second provides justification for that commonly held view.
c) The first outlines the author’s unconventional stance on an issue; the second provides justification for that stance.
d) The first is an opinion that the author uses to undermine a commonly held view; the second is the author's conclusion.
e) The first is a belief that the author uses in support of his conclusion; the second is evidence that supports that conclusion.
VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:
With boldface Critical Reasoning questions, it is imperative that you understand the argument as a whole. Challenge-level problems often include a good deal of nuance in the non-bold type, rewarding those who digest the entire argument rather than simply race to the bolded areas.
Here you should take a moment to reflect on what the author is really trying to convey. The author discusses both the moon landing and the challenge of solving social issues, all under the context of the common phrase "we can put a man on the moon, but we cannot _____." Importantly, the author's conclusion must therefore encompass both items: it's essentially "solving social issues is harder than you think, whereas landing a man on the moon is easier than solving those issues would be."
For this reason, choice A is incorrect. The conclusion isn't merely about travel to the moon being easier than one would think - it must also include the challenge related to solving social issues.
Choice B is also incorrect. While it accurately describes the first boldfaced section (which is, indeed, a belief that undermines a commonly-held view), the second portion clearly does not support that view. That commonly-held view is "landing a man on the moon is hard" whereas the second boldfaced section is evidence for "solving social issues is hard."
Choice C is similarly wrong. While the first portion - landing a man on the moon isn't as hard as people think - could certainly be described as an unconventional belief, the second doesn't support that view. It supports the second half of the author's conclusion, about solving social issues.
Choice D also starts out with a quality description of the first boldfaced portion, but the second is incorrect: the second boldfaced section supports the author's main point, but it is not the author's main point.
Choice E is correct. Remember, the author's conclusion is essentially the first half of the last sentence, "many social issues are far more complex than putting a man on the moon." So the first boldfaced portion certainly works as a belief he uses support for that conclusion, as he believes that moon travel is easier than people think. And the second is justification for the second half of that conclusion, as he details reasons that social issues are challenging to solve. Both halves of choice E are correct descriptions, so choice E is correct.
