Consultant: A significant number of complex repair jobs carried out

Consultant: A significant number of complex repair jobs carried out by Ace Repairs have to be redone under the company's warranty, but when those repairs are redone they are invariably successful. Since we have definitely established that there is no systematic difference between the mechanics who are assigned to do the initial repairs and those who are assigned to redo unsatisfactory jobs, it is clear that inadequacies in the initial repairs cannot be attributed to the mechanics' lack of competence. Rather, it is likely that complex repairs require a level of focused attention that the company's mechanics apply consistently only to repair jobs that have been inadequately done on the first try.

Understanding of the question: The repairs have to be redone, because many times in the first go, they are unsuccessful. To cite reasons for it, one reason could be mechanics' inefficiency to cater to the problem in the first time. But the second statement disagrees to this fact. And the last statement gives another possible reason for the need for redoing.


A) The first is a claim that the consultant rejects as false; the second is evidence that forms the basis for that rejection.
----------- Instead of a claim, the first statement presents a fact
B) The first is part of an explanation that the consultant offers for a certain finding; the second is that finding.
----------- The first part offers a certain finding and not an explanation.
C) The first presents a pattern whose explanation is at issue in the reasoning; the second provides evidence to rule out one possible explanation of that pattern.
------------- This seemed the most correct. "A significant number of times" denotes a pattern. Later on, we try to give explanation for it. The second statement starts with "Since", giving the hint that it provides evidence. And yes it rules out the explanation that mechanics' inefficiency is responsible for this.
D) The first presents a pattern whose explanation is at issue in the reasoning; the second is evidence that has been used to challenge the explanation presented by the consultant.
----------- The first part of this answer is correct as explained in the previous option. The second part doesn't challenge the explanation because it follows the explanation presented by the consultant.
E) The first is the position the consultant seeks to establish; the second is offered as evidence for that position.
---------Both the parts are wrong in this statement.

Overall, as per the language of the question, I would rate it 700-800 since it takes time to understand exactly what is the author trying to say. But the options are straight forward and hence, it is rightly put under 600-700 difficulty.

Consultant: A significant number of complex repair jobs carried out by Ace Repairs have to be redone under the company's warranty, but when those repairs are redone they are invariably successful. Since we have definitely established that there is no systematic difference between the mechanics who are assigned to do the initial repairs and those who are assigned to redo unsatisfactory jobs, it is clear that inadequacies in the initial repairs cannot be attributed to the mechanics' lack of competence. Rather, it is likely that complex repairs require a level of focused attention that the company's mechanics apply consistently only to repair jobs that have been inadequately done on the first try.

In the consultant's reasoning, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?



- BF1- Is a premise , it presents the observation of consultant
- BF2 : Is the fact/evidence that supports the conclusion derived a the end of argument

Note - none of the BF part is conclusion.
Now with this understanding of BF lets check each ans choice.

A) The first is a claim that the consultant rejects as false; the second is evidence that forms the basis for that rejection.
- BF1- Consultant is not trying to reject the claim. Infact consultant is trying to reason that observation or claim.
- BF2- No second is not evidence to reject anything in the argument. It infact helps to derive the conclusion

So Eliminate A

B) The first is part of an explanation that the consultant offers for a certain finding; the second is that finding.
- BF 1 - Is not part of an explanation, it presents the findings not the explanation for finding.
- BF-2 - Clearly incorrect as per our understanding.

So Eliminate B

C) The first presents a pattern whose explanation is at issue in the reasoning; the second provides evidence to rule out one possible explanation of that pattern.
- Correct
BF1- Yes BF1 is talking about a pattern that complex repair jobs have to be redone, and those redone are successful and trying to find reason for the pattern. ( explanation at issue- point being argued about). So it is fine.
BF2- helps to derive at conclusion and presents an evidence to rule out one possible explanation- i.e mechanics are not skill so the pattern of repair jobs that have to be redone is happening.


D) The first presents a pattern whose explanation is at issue in the reasoning; the second is evidence that has been used to challenge the explanation presented by the consultant.

BF 1- Seems ok
BF2- BF2 is evidence but it is has not been used to challenge the explanation , infact it has been used to derive conclusion by elimination one of the possiblility.

So eliminate D

E) The first is the position the consultant seeks to establish; the second is offered as evidence for that position.
BF 1- Position argument is trying to establish means Main conclusion that argument wants to derive. But in BF1 consultants are not putting conclusion. It just presents pattern no conclusion.Conclusion comes later in the argument

So eliminate E

Ans is Choice C

Hope it helps!

Note key words in BF CR - it really helps

eg: position- main conclusion
Judgement- opinion/ hypothesis/ conclusion
case at issue- the thing that really concerns author !

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