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605-655 Level|   Humanities|   Long Passage|         
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 13 Sep 2022, 09:01
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Could someone please explain the answer to question no. 6? Why is it "Absurd"? From where in the passage do I get the clue? I thought "Literate" would be the answer.
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 13 Sep 2022, 09:02
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Is it actually an official passage?
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 17 Sep 2022, 19:03
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gmatbd
Could someone please explain the answer to question no. 6? Why is it "Absurd"? From where in the passage do I get the clue?
Show more

It's about newspaper editor's system for choosing reviews to publish (lines 25-35).

The words articulate and literate only make sense as descriptions of PEOPLE. Because the passage describes "a brilliant system", these two choices are gone immediately.

Out of the remaining three:

There's no way to get showy to make sense. According to the narrative in the passage, certain writers (of "unenthusiastic" reviews) had to infer how the system worked by having certain submissions rejected / not published over time. So certainly the system was not overwhelmingly colorful, in-your-face, and on display ("showy").

Stingy means extremely tight with finances. Money is hardly mentioned at all here. Moreover, the only mention of money is about how this newspaper duly paid for all the reviews, including the ones it didn't publish—certainly not a "stingy" practice.


That leaves absurd.
Unlike the other choices, this one can at least make sense—specifically, if "brilliant" is sarcastic. That interpretation works here, since the system as described is actually really bad: Some writers were given false hope for reviews that weren't published at all, and some writers, reacting to this situation, learned to misrepresent their actual views in order to get their work published.


I think this is the only example I've seen from GMAC that requires you to pick up on irony/sarcasm that isn't very obvious. The saving grace of this problem, though, is that the other four choices are (as usual) completely wrong: two of them are human personal traits that are totally meaningless for a 'system', and two of the remaining three are more like opposites of descriptions that work.
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 17 Sep 2022, 19:09
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gmatbd
Is it actually an official passage?
Show more

It is. I looked it up in the GMAT Advanced Questions book.



It's worth remembering here, by the way, that the items in that book are quite old—many dating back as far as the switch from the paper-based to the computerized GMAT, about 25 years ago (back when the vast majority of test takers were still Americans whose native language is English).

This observation mostly pertains to SC, which has seen marked changes since then to ensure that it's fair for international test takers.

Not much about RC has changed. One systematic change to RC, however, is relevant here: The genre of problems that ask for, or that rely on, the "tone" of a passage—such as the sarcasm/irony of the word "brilliant" here—has been purged from the exam. Thus you will not see something like this on a GMAT administration nowadays.
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 25 Mar 2023, 03:18
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Behind every book review there are two key figures:
⠀⠀⠀ a book review editor and a reviewer. Editors decide
⠀⠀⠀ whether a book is reviewed in their publication, when
⠀⠀⠀ the review appears, how long it is, and who writes the
(5)⠀⠀review.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀When many periodicals feature the same books,
⠀⠀⠀ this does not prove that the editors of different
⠀⠀⠀ periodicals have not made individual decisions.
⠀⠀⠀ Before publication, editors receive news releases and
(10)⠀⠀printer's proofs of certain books, signifying that the
⠀⠀⠀ publishers will make special efforts to promote these
⠀⠀⠀ books. They will be heavily advertised and probably
⠀⠀⠀ be among the books that most bookstores order in
⠀⠀⠀ quantity. Not having such books reviewed might give
(15)⠀⠀the impression that the editor was caught napping,
⠀⠀⠀ whereas too many reviews of books that readers will
⠀⠀⠀ have trouble finding in stores would be inappropriate.
⠀⠀⠀ Editors can risk having a few of the less popular
⠀⠀⠀ titles reviewed, but they must consider what will be
(20)⠀⠀newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀If these were the only factors influencing editors,
⠀⠀⠀ few books that stand little chance of selling well would
⠀⠀⠀ ever be reviewed. But editors feel some concern
⠀⠀⠀ about what might endure, and therefore listen to
(25)⠀⠀literary experts. A generation ago, a newspaper used
⠀⠀⠀ a brilliant system of choosing which books to feature.
⠀⠀⠀ The book review editor sent out a greater number of
⠀⠀⠀ books than reviews he actually intended to publish.
⠀⠀⠀ If a review was unenthusiastic, he reasoned that the
(30)⠀⠀book was not important enough to be discussed
⠀⠀⠀ immediately, and if good reviews of enough other
⠀⠀⠀ books came in, the unenthusiastic review might never
⠀⠀⠀ be printed. The unenthusiastic reviewers were paid
⠀⠀⠀ promptly anyway, but they learned that if they wanted
(35)⠀⠀their material to be printed, it was advisable to be
⠀⠀⠀ kind.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Most editors print favorable and unfavorable
⠀⠀⠀ reviews; however, the content of the review may be
⠀⠀⠀ influenced by the editor. Some editors would actually
⠀⠀⠀ feel that they had failed in their responsibility if they
⠀⠀⠀ gave books by authors they admired to hostile critics
⠀⠀⠀ or books by authors they disapproved of to critics
⠀⠀⠀ who might favor them. Editors usually can predict who
⠀⠀⠀ would review a book enthusiastically and who would
(45)⠀⠀tear it to shreds.

1. According to the passage, book review editors pay attention to all of the following in deciding which books should be reviewed in their publications EXCEPT

A. news releases from publishers
B. sales figures compiled by bookstores
C. the opinions of literary experts
D. the probability that the books will be extensively advertised
E. the likelihood that the books will be reviewed in other publications

RC69461.01-10



2. The main idea of the second paragraph is that

A. decisions made by book review editors are influenced by the business of selling books
B. book review editors must be familiar with all aspects of the book trade
C. advertising is the most important factor influencing book sales
D. book reviews usually have no influence on what books are ordered in quantity by stores
E. publishers deliberately try to influence the decisions of book review editors

RC69461.01-20



3. According to the passage, a major concern of the unenthusiastic book reviewers mentioned in line 33 was to

A. ensure prompt payment for their work
B. influence public opinion of books
C. confirm the opinions of other reviewers
D. promote new books by their favorite authors
E. have their reviews published in the newspaper

RC69461.01-30



4. The passage provides information to answer which of the following questions?

A. Would most book review editors prefer to have books reviewed without regard to the probable commercial success of the books?
B. Are publishers' efforts to persuade bookstores to order certain books generally effective?
C. On what basis do literary experts decide that a book is or is not important?
D. What criteria are used to determine the length of a particular book review?
E. Have book review practices in general changed significantly since a generation ago?

RC69461.01-40



5. The passage suggests which of the following about book review readers?

A. They pay careful attention to reviewers' biases as they read reviews.
B. They disapprove of book review editors who try to influence what their reviewers write.
C. They use book reviews in order to gauge whether a book is likely to endure.
D. They expect to see timely reviews of widely publicized books in the periodicals they read.
E. They are usually willing to search in several stores for a highly recommended book that is hard to find.

RC69461.01-50



6. Which of the following words, if substituted for “brilliant” in line 26, would LEAST change the meaning of the sentence?

A. showy
B. articulate
C. literate
D. stingy
E. absurd

RC69461.01-60



7. Which of the following is an assumption made by the book review editor referred to in line 27?

A. A book of great worth will receive only good reviews.
B. An important book will endure despite possible bad reviews.
C. Reviewers might hide their true opinions in order to have their reviews published.
D. Book review editors should select reviewers whose opinions can be guessed in advance.
E. Book review editors have an obligation to print extensive reviews of apparently important books.

RC69461.01-70



8. It can be inferred that, as a prospective book buyer, the author of the passage would generally respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books with

A. resignation
B. amusement
C. condemnation
D. skepticism
E. disinterest

RC69461.01-80


Official Explanation

RC69461.01-60

6. Which of the following words, if substituted for “brilliant” in line 26, would LEAST change the meaning of the sentence?

A. showy
B. articulate
C. literate
D. stingy
E. absurd

Evaluation

Which word, if substituted for “brilliant” in the sentence, would least alter the meaning of the sentence? In other words, we must pick the word we could substitute for brilliant in the sentence without significantly changing the meaning of the sentence.

Note that neither articulate nor literate would be an apt modifier of the word system. Stingy indicates a financial use of the system, which seems inappropriate.

Eliminating these options leaves only showy and absurd as candidates. Given these choices, it is fairly clear that brilliant is meant ironically. We are told that the unenthusiastic reviewers quickly learned that if they wanted their material to be printed, it was advisable to be kind.

A. Nothing in the passage conveys that the system, ironically designated brilliant, was showy, that is, eye-catching.

B. Articulate could describe fluent or coherent speech, description, or writing, but it does not appropriately modify the noun system in this context.

C. The adjective literate does not appropriately modify system; furthermore, it fails to convey a clear meaning that would match the ironic meaning of the modifier brilliant.

D. The system does not seem to have a monetary purpose, so stingy would not fit. Note that the final sentence of the paragraph suggests that the system self-selects for books that are likely to be successful, potentially at the expense of writers who write “unenthusiastic reviews.” Nevertheless, the passage notes that the unpublished writers would still be paid, so their risk lies in not having their work read rather than in not being paid for their work.

E. Correct. Among the answer choices, absurd best captures the ironic use of brilliant and preserves the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The correct answer is E.
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It's possible that the word "brilliant" in the phrase "a brilliant system of choosing which books to feature" is being used ironically. The system described in the paragraph involves sending out more books than the editor intends to publish reviews for, and choosing not to publish reviews of books that receive unenthusiastic reviews. While this system may have been effective in some ways, it could also be seen as flawed or manipulative. So the use of the word "brilliant" could be interpreted as a way of suggesting that the system was clever, but also potentially deceptive or unethical. However, the paragraph itself does not provide enough context to say for certain whether the word is being used ironically or not.
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 29 Jun 2023, 00:45
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Can someone provide an explanation for Q4. Given certain logic for each of the options, I am able to rule all of them out. Option B, too, can be ruled out for the same reason that the lines - "They will be heavily advertised and *probably* be among the books that most bookstores order in quantity." do not indicate that publishers' efforts to persuade bookstores to order their books in quantity are generally effective. The language of the passage suggests that such a case might or might not be true.
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 23 Jul 2023, 12:05
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Question 4


adityashikhar4
Can someone provide an explanation for Q4. Given certain logic for each of the options, I am able to rule all of them out. Option B, too, can be ruled out for the same reason that the lines - "They will be heavily advertised and *probably* be among the books that most bookstores order in quantity." do not indicate that publishers' efforts to persuade bookstores to order their books in quantity are generally effective. The language of the passage suggests that such a case might or might not be true.
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"Probably" means "almost certainly; as far as one knows or can tell." Even if that particular definition feels a bit strong, if something is "probable" it is certainly more likely than not. So the passage goes further than "might or might not be true" -- it indicates that the efforts are usually effective.

(B) is the correct answer to question 4.

I hope that helps!
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 15 Aug 2023, 03:49
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What does resignation in general mean in this context? Why is choice A incorrect for question 8?

8. It can be inferred that, as a prospective book buyer, the author of the passage would generally respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books with

A. resignation
B. amusement
C. condemnation
D. skepticism
E. disinterest
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 16 Aug 2023, 12:14
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Explanation

8. It can be inferred that, as a prospective book buyer, the author of the passage would generally respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books with

Difficulty Level: 600

Explanation

What does the passage suggest about how its author might respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books? Nothing in the passage suggests the response would be resignation, amusement, or condemnation.

This narrows down the possibilities to skepticism or disinterest. The intended meaning of disinterest is “lack of interest.” It is unlikely that the author of the passage would be generally uninterested in highly enthusiastic reviews of new books.

This of course leaves skepticism as the best candidate. The passage does suggest that this might be the passage author's attitude: the passage discusses the impact of commercial considerations—the business of selling books—on review editors' choices regarding which books to review. It follows that highly enthusiastic reviews may, at least in some cases, be influenced by such considerations. With this in mind, the author of the passage is likely to approach such reviews with skepticism. In other words, the author holds a certain amount of doubt as to whether such reviews accurately reflect the true worth of the books reviewed.

A. Given the critical approach to reviewing practices conveyed in the passage, it is unlikely that the response of the author would be resignation.

B. The author of the passage might, for various reasons, be amused at some highly enthusiastic reviews. Nevertheless, the passage does not suggest that amusement would be the author's response to any highly enthusiastic review.

C. Nothing in the passage suggests that the author's general response to enthusiastic reviews would be condemnation.

D. Correct. As explained above, skepticism is most likely to be the author's most usual response.

E. Some book reviews, even highly enthusiastic ones, might not interest the author of the passage. However, nothing in the passage indicates that the author's general response would be to show no interest.

The correct answer is D.

HARSHITHA12
What does resignation in general mean in this context? Why is choice A incorrect for question 8?

8. It can be inferred that, as a prospective book buyer, the author of the passage would generally respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books with

A. resignation
B. amusement
C. condemnation
D. skepticism
E. disinterest
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 03 Sep 2023, 22:35
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Behind every book review there are two key figures:
⠀⠀⠀ a book review editor and a reviewer. Editors decide
⠀⠀⠀ whether a book is reviewed in their publication, when
⠀⠀⠀ the review appears, how long it is, and who writes the
(5)⠀⠀review.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀When many periodicals feature the same books,
⠀⠀⠀ this does not prove that the editors of different
⠀⠀⠀ periodicals have not made individual decisions.
⠀⠀⠀ Before publication, editors receive news releases and
(10)⠀⠀printer's proofs of certain books, signifying that the
⠀⠀⠀ publishers will make special efforts to promote these
⠀⠀⠀ books. They will be heavily advertised and probably
⠀⠀⠀ be among the books that most bookstores order in
⠀⠀⠀ quantity. Not having such books reviewed might give
(15)⠀⠀the impression that the editor was caught napping,
⠀⠀⠀ whereas too many reviews of books that readers will
⠀⠀⠀ have trouble finding in stores would be inappropriate.
⠀⠀⠀ Editors can risk having a few of the less popular
⠀⠀⠀ titles reviewed, but they must consider what will be
(20)⠀⠀newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀If these were the only factors influencing editors,
⠀⠀⠀ few books that stand little chance of selling well would
⠀⠀⠀ ever be reviewed. But editors feel some concern
⠀⠀⠀ about what might endure, and therefore listen to
(25)⠀⠀literary experts. A generation ago, a newspaper used
⠀⠀⠀ a brilliant system of choosing which books to feature.
⠀⠀⠀ The book review editor sent out a greater number of
⠀⠀⠀ books than reviews he actually intended to publish.
⠀⠀⠀ If a review was unenthusiastic, he reasoned that the
(30)⠀⠀book was not important enough to be discussed
⠀⠀⠀ immediately, and if good reviews of enough other
⠀⠀⠀ books came in, the unenthusiastic review might never
⠀⠀⠀ be printed. The unenthusiastic reviewers were paid
⠀⠀⠀ promptly anyway, but they learned that if they wanted
(35)⠀⠀their material to be printed, it was advisable to be
⠀⠀⠀ kind.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Most editors print favorable and unfavorable
⠀⠀⠀ reviews; however, the content of the review may be
⠀⠀⠀ influenced by the editor. Some editors would actually
⠀⠀⠀ feel that they had failed in their responsibility if they
⠀⠀⠀ gave books by authors they admired to hostile critics
⠀⠀⠀ or books by authors they disapproved of to critics
⠀⠀⠀ who might favor them. Editors usually can predict who
⠀⠀⠀ would review a book enthusiastically and who would
(45)⠀⠀tear it to shreds.

1. According to the passage, book review editors pay attention to all of the following in deciding which books should be reviewed in their publications EXCEPT

A. news releases from publishers
B. sales figures compiled by bookstores
C. the opinions of literary experts
D. the probability that the books will be extensively advertised
E. the likelihood that the books will be reviewed in other publications

RC69461.01-10



2. The main idea of the second paragraph is that

A. decisions made by book review editors are influenced by the business of selling books
B. book review editors must be familiar with all aspects of the book trade
C. advertising is the most important factor influencing book sales
D. book reviews usually have no influence on what books are ordered in quantity by stores
E. publishers deliberately try to influence the decisions of book review editors

RC69461.01-20



3. According to the passage, a major concern of the unenthusiastic book reviewers mentioned in line 33 was to

A. ensure prompt payment for their work
B. influence public opinion of books
C. confirm the opinions of other reviewers
D. promote new books by their favorite authors
E. have their reviews published in the newspaper

RC69461.01-30



4. The passage provides information to answer which of the following questions?

A. Would most book review editors prefer to have books reviewed without regard to the probable commercial success of the books?
B. Are publishers' efforts to persuade bookstores to order certain books generally effective?
C. On what basis do literary experts decide that a book is or is not important?
D. What criteria are used to determine the length of a particular book review?
E. Have book review practices in general changed significantly since a generation ago?

RC69461.01-40



5. The passage suggests which of the following about book review readers?

A. They pay careful attention to reviewers' biases as they read reviews.
B. They disapprove of book review editors who try to influence what their reviewers write.
C. They use book reviews in order to gauge whether a book is likely to endure.
D. They expect to see timely reviews of widely publicized books in the periodicals they read.
E. They are usually willing to search in several stores for a highly recommended book that is hard to find.

RC69461.01-50



6. Which of the following words, if substituted for “brilliant” in line 26, would LEAST change the meaning of the sentence?

A. showy
B. articulate
C. literate
D. stingy
E. absurd

RC69461.01-60



7. Which of the following is an assumption made by the book review editor referred to in line 27?

A. A book of great worth will receive only good reviews.
B. An important book will endure despite possible bad reviews.
C. Reviewers might hide their true opinions in order to have their reviews published.
D. Book review editors should select reviewers whose opinions can be guessed in advance.
E. Book review editors have an obligation to print extensive reviews of apparently important books.

RC69461.01-70



8. It can be inferred that, as a prospective book buyer, the author of the passage would generally respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books with

A. resignation
B. amusement
C. condemnation
D. skepticism
E. disinterest

RC69461.01-80


Official Explanation

RC69461.01-50

5. The passage suggests which of the following about book review readers?

A. They pay careful attention to reviewers' biases as they read reviews.
B. They disapprove of book review editors who try to influence what their reviewers write.
C. They use book reviews in order to gauge whether a book is likely to endure.
D. They expect to see timely reviews of widely publicized books in the periodicals they read.
E. They are usually willing to search in several stores for a highly recommended book that is hard to find.

Inference

What does the passage convey about readers of book reviews? Note that the question does not concern what is most likely true of at least some book review readers; rather, the passage most strongly suggests what is true of book review readers in general.

Nothing in the passage implies that any of the first three answer choices given is true of book review readers in general. This leaves the final two answer choices as possible candidates. Of the two, D more clearly describes something that the passage suggests is generally true of book review readers.

A. No doubt some book review readers pay attention to reviewers' biases, but the passage does not imply that this is generally true of readers of book reviews.

B. The passage does not tell us that readers of book reviews generally know whether review content is influenced by book review editors. Furthermore, it does not tell us whether these readers generally approve or disapprove of such editors.

C. The passage nowhere suggests that readers of book reviews generally make judgments as to whether a book is likely to be a long-lasting cultural legacy.

D. Correct. The passage indicates that book review editors in general feel responsible to meet their readers' expectations by providing reviews of books that are newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere.

E. The passage nowhere suggests that most book review readers will search in several stores for a highly recommended book. The passage refers to books that readers will have trouble finding in stores; however, this is more plausibly read as readers of books rather than readers of book reviews. Furthermore, it does not suggest that most readers—or most readers of book reviews—will go to several stores to search for a book.

The correct answer is D.
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Too many reviews of books that readers will have trouble finding in stores would be inappropriate.
My understanding: too many reviews of the book-> too many people read it-> they get tempted to read the book-> they look for the book-> they don't find it.
OE says The passage refers to books that readers will have trouble finding in stores; however, this is more plausibly read as readers of books rather than readers of book reviews

As a reader of books, I am having trouble understanding what are we trying to imply here? Generally readers of books have trouble locating a book in stores? How is the passage related to it? Also the OA is D which talks about review readers' expectations. The passage hasn't really talked about it. I agree with the explanation -> The passage indicates that book review editors in general feel responsible to meet their readers' expectations by providing reviews of books that are newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere. Yes! this is implied. But the word 'timely reviews', how did we infer that.

Could someone please point the gap in my understanding here.

Thanks
Divya
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 15 Sep 2023, 00:43
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The passage states that book reviewers must be "kind" for their reviews to be published/considered for publication. How, then, would a book ever get bad reviews?
If a bad review is given and it is published, it means the editor also feels the same way about the book. Does this imply that the book reviewer guesses what the author might think before giving his own evaluation? Something seems off.
Experts help please
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 15 Sep 2023, 01:38
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sidhusan
The passage states that book reviewers must be "kind" for their reviews to be published/considered for publication. How, then, would a book ever get bad reviews?
If a bad review is given and it is published, it means the editor also feels the same way about the book. Does this imply that the book reviewer guesses what the author might think before giving his own evaluation? Something seems off.
Experts help please
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The passage gives you the author's opinion on how the editor-reviewer community functions.

A generation ago, a newspaper used
⠀⠀⠀ a brilliant system of choosing which books to feature.
⠀⠀⠀ The book review editor sent out a greater number of
⠀⠀⠀ books than reviews he actually intended to publish.
⠀⠀⠀ If a review was unenthusiastic, he reasoned that the
(30)⠀⠀book was not important enough to be discussed
⠀⠀⠀ immediately, and if good reviews of enough other
⠀⠀⠀ books came in, the unenthusiastic review might never
⠀⠀⠀ be printed. The unenthusiastic reviewers were paid
⠀⠀⠀ promptly anyway, but they learned that if they wanted
(35)⠀⠀their material to be printed, it was advisable to be
⠀⠀⠀ kind.

talks about a particular newspaper editor many years ago. It doesn't say this is how everyone functions. He is showing the absurdity of how reviews to be printed were selected.

Most editors print favorable and unfavorable
⠀⠀⠀ reviews; however, the content of the review may be
⠀⠀⠀ influenced by the editor. Some editors would actually
⠀⠀⠀ feel that they had failed in their responsibility if they
⠀⠀⠀ gave books by authors they admired to hostile critics
⠀⠀⠀ or books by authors they disapproved of to critics
⠀⠀⠀ who might favor them. Editors usually can predict who
⠀⠀⠀ would review a book enthusiastically and who would
(45)⠀⠀tear it to shreds.


tells you how the editor is pretty much the deciding factor in what kind of a review a book gets in the newspaper. If the editor likes the author, he will give the book to a reviewer he knows will be kind to the book. If he doesn't like the author, he gives it to the one who he knows has a mean streak.

In effect, the author is implying that if you see a good review of a book, it doesn't necessarily mean that the book is good. It is possible that the editor liked the author and hence got his book reviewed from a "positive reviewer".
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 12 Feb 2024, 09:15
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singhall
Too many reviews of books that readers will have trouble finding in stores would be inappropriate.

My understanding: too many reviews of the book-> too many people read it-> they get tempted to read the book-> they look for the book-> they don't find it.

OE says The passage refers to books that readers will have trouble finding in stores; however, this is more plausibly read as readers of books rather than readers of book reviews

As a reader of books, I am having trouble understanding what are we trying to imply here? Generally readers of books have trouble locating a book in stores? How is the passage related to it? Also the OA is D which talks about review readers' expectations. The passage hasn't really talked about it. I agree with the explanation -> The passage indicates that book review editors in general feel responsible to meet their readers' expectations by providing reviews of books that are newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere. Yes! this is implied. But the word 'timely reviews', how did we infer that.

Could someone please point the gap in my understanding here.

Thanks

Divya
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Sorry for the delay!

The word "timely" simply suggests that the reviews are being published around the same time that those heavily advertised books are hitting the shelves in bookstores. If an editor fails to publish a review of the highly advertised book that has it's own prominent display section at the bookstore, people will think that the editor was caught napping, and failed to do his or her job.

So even though the "timely" part isn't directly stated in the passage, it can be inferred from the context.

As for (E), don't worry too much about the wording in the OE -- the explanations aren't written by the question-writers (or anybody else at GMAC) and should be taken with a grain of salt. The important part is that nothing in the passages gives the impression that readers will go out of their way to hunt for hard-to-find books. The passage simply implies that it would be inappropriate to publish a ton of reviews of books that are really hard to find -- those reviews would be pretty useless for most people.

I hope that helps!­­
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 15 Jun 2024, 03:19
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Behind every book review there are two key figures:
⠀⠀⠀ a book review editor and a reviewer. Editors decide
⠀⠀⠀ whether a book is reviewed in their publication, when
⠀⠀⠀ the review appears, how long it is, and who writes the
(5)⠀⠀review.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀When many periodicals feature the same books,
⠀⠀⠀ this does not prove that the editors of different
⠀⠀⠀ periodicals have not made individual decisions.
⠀⠀⠀ Before publication, editors receive news releases and
(10)⠀⠀printer's proofs of certain books, signifying that the
⠀⠀⠀ publishers will make special efforts to promote these
⠀⠀⠀ books. They will be heavily advertised and probably
⠀⠀⠀ be among the books that most bookstores order in
⠀⠀⠀ quantity. Not having such books reviewed might give
(15)⠀⠀the impression that the editor was caught napping,
⠀⠀⠀ whereas too many reviews of books that readers will
⠀⠀⠀ have trouble finding in stores would be inappropriate.
⠀⠀⠀ Editors can risk having a few of the less popular
⠀⠀⠀ titles reviewed, but they must consider what will be
(20)⠀⠀newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀If these were the only factors influencing editors,
⠀⠀⠀ few books that stand little chance of selling well would
⠀⠀⠀ ever be reviewed. But editors feel some concern
⠀⠀⠀ about what might endure, and therefore listen to
(25)⠀⠀literary experts. A generation ago, a newspaper used
⠀⠀⠀ a brilliant system of choosing which books to feature.
⠀⠀⠀ The book review editor sent out a greater number of
⠀⠀⠀ books than reviews he actually intended to publish.
⠀⠀⠀ If a review was unenthusiastic, he reasoned that the
(30)⠀⠀book was not important enough to be discussed
⠀⠀⠀ immediately, and if good reviews of enough other
⠀⠀⠀ books came in, the unenthusiastic review might never
⠀⠀⠀ be printed. The unenthusiastic reviewers were paid
⠀⠀⠀ promptly anyway, but they learned that if they wanted
(35)⠀⠀their material to be printed, it was advisable to be
⠀⠀⠀ kind.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Most editors print favorable and unfavorable
⠀⠀⠀ reviews; however, the content of the review may be
⠀⠀⠀ influenced by the editor. Some editors would actually
⠀⠀⠀ feel that they had failed in their responsibility if they
⠀⠀⠀ gave books by authors they admired to hostile critics
⠀⠀⠀ or books by authors they disapproved of to critics
⠀⠀⠀ who might favor them. Editors usually can predict who
⠀⠀⠀ would review a book enthusiastically and who would
(45)⠀⠀tear it to shreds.

1. According to the passage, book review editors pay attention to all of the following in deciding which books should be reviewed in their publications EXCEPT

A. news releases from publishers
B. sales figures compiled by bookstores
C. the opinions of literary experts
D. the probability that the books will be extensively advertised
E. the likelihood that the books will be reviewed in other publications

RC69461.01-10



2. The main idea of the second paragraph is that

A. decisions made by book review editors are influenced by the business of selling books
B. book review editors must be familiar with all aspects of the book trade
C. advertising is the most important factor influencing book sales
D. book reviews usually have no influence on what books are ordered in quantity by stores
E. publishers deliberately try to influence the decisions of book review editors

RC69461.01-20



3. According to the passage, a major concern of the unenthusiastic book reviewers mentioned in line 33 was to

A. ensure prompt payment for their work
B. influence public opinion of books
C. confirm the opinions of other reviewers
D. promote new books by their favorite authors
E. have their reviews published in the newspaper

RC69461.01-30



4. The passage provides information to answer which of the following questions?

A. Would most book review editors prefer to have books reviewed without regard to the probable commercial success of the books?
B. Are publishers' efforts to persuade bookstores to order certain books generally effective?
C. On what basis do literary experts decide that a book is or is not important?
D. What criteria are used to determine the length of a particular book review?
E. Have book review practices in general changed significantly since a generation ago?

RC69461.01-40



5. The passage suggests which of the following about book review readers?

A. They pay careful attention to reviewers' biases as they read reviews.
B. They disapprove of book review editors who try to influence what their reviewers write.
C. They use book reviews in order to gauge whether a book is likely to endure.
D. They expect to see timely reviews of widely publicized books in the periodicals they read.
E. They are usually willing to search in several stores for a highly recommended book that is hard to find.

RC69461.01-50



6. Which of the following words, if substituted for “brilliant” in line 26, would LEAST change the meaning of the sentence?

A. showy
B. articulate
C. literate
D. stingy
E. absurd

RC69461.01-60



7. Which of the following is an assumption made by the book review editor referred to in line 27?

A. A book of great worth will receive only good reviews.
B. An important book will endure despite possible bad reviews.
C. Reviewers might hide their true opinions in order to have their reviews published.
D. Book review editors should select reviewers whose opinions can be guessed in advance.
E. Book review editors have an obligation to print extensive reviews of apparently important books.

RC69461.01-70



8. It can be inferred that, as a prospective book buyer, the author of the passage would generally respond to highly enthusiastic reviews of new books with

A. resignation
B. amusement
C. condemnation
D. skepticism
E. disinterest

RC69461.01-80

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­This passage is discussed here: 

­
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 13 May 2025, 21:10
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"If these were the only factors influencing editors, few books that stand little chance of selling well would ever be reviewed."

So for Q1, it does matter how much sales the books make so why did we not consider this?
thereby answer being B and not E

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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 27 May 2025, 07:58
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Question 1


rak08
"If these were the only factors influencing editors, few books that stand little chance of selling well would ever be reviewed."

So for Q1, it does matter how much sales the books make so why did we not consider this?

thereby answer being B and not E

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Choice (B) is very specific: sales figures compiled by bookstores. That's not the same as sales predictions. Choice (B) is talking about concrete sales data (number of books sold, revenue from those books, etc.).

Yes, the editors are concerned with potential sales volume (which is why they try to review books "that will be heavily advertised and probably be among the books that most bookstores order in quantity"). But the passage does not say anything about using past sales data to influence their decisions.

The final sentence of the second paragraph explains why choice E must be eliminated: "Editors can risk having a few of the less popular titles reviewed, but they must consider what will be newsworthy, advertised, and written about elsewhere."

For example, if the editor of Publication X knows that some new book is going to be heavily advertised and ordered in large quantities by most bookstores, then they would expect most other book reviewers to publish a review of that book. It would be a bad look for Publication X if they don't have a review of that book while most other book reviewers do.

(B) is the better option.
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 11 Jun 2025, 22:04
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I think the answer to Q7 could be A/E, since both assumptions seem to have been made by the editors under question.

Editors assume - Unenthusiastic Review = Book not important, whereas an enthusiastic review = Book important.

Now, since the passage implies that the books reviews they are printing are about those which have enthusiastic reviews, and by extension of the assumption, important, aren't they also assuming that they have to print book reviews about important books?
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Behind every book review there are two key figures: a book review edit 26 Jun 2025, 15:53
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I think the answer to Q7 could be A/E, since both assumptions seem to have been made by the editors under question.

Editors assume - Unenthusiastic Review = Book not important, whereas an enthusiastic review = Book important.

Now, since the passage implies that the books reviews they are printing are about those which have enthusiastic reviews, and by extension of the assumption, important, aren't they also assuming that they have to print book reviews about important books?
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The editor's reasoning, as described in the third paragraph, might result in extensive reviews of apparently important books. But that reasoning is not based on an assumption that book review editors have an obligation to print extensive reviews of apparently important books.

That reasoning is, however, based on the choice (A) assumption, as explained in this post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/behind-every ... l#p2432084.
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