Letter to the editor: Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this

Question

Letter to the editor: Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this year’s ballot, would
prohibit the ownership of handguns within the city’s limits. Under the plan, gun owners
would have a 90-day grace period to turn in their weapons to authorities. Proponents of the
proposition argue that fewer handguns on the streets would lead to less violent crime,
making the city safer for all of its citizens. Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the
opposite effect. Since only law abiding citizens would honor the ban, armed criminals
would not only keep their weapons but would also have the confidence to act with
impunity on a population that could no longer defend itself. In the letter to the editor, the
two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A) The first is an observation that the author uses to support a particular position; the second is
that position.
b) The first is a pattern of cause and effect that the author believes to be true; the second offers
evidence to contradict this pattern.
c) The first is a position that the author argues will not hold in this case; the second is the
author’s position.
d) The first is a prediction that the author believes to be untrue. The second is a statement of
fact that undermines the author’s position.
e) The first is a direct relationship that the author believes will not hold in this case; the second
offers evidence in support of the author’s position.

Main CR Qs link - cr-qs-600-700-level-131508.html

soods26 · Accepted Answer

In the first boldface the proponents claim that fewer handguns on the streets will lead to less violent crime. In the second boldface the author provides evidence to refute the proponent's claim.

Thus - a,b and d are out right wrong and thus eliminated.

Left with c and e - In C second boldface is not the author's position, it is evidence to support the position. The author's position is:  Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the opposite effect.

Thus, we are left with e. Hope this helps.

chetan2u · Answer

Letter to the editor: Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this year’s ballot, would prohibit the ownership of handguns within the city’s limits. Under the plan, gun owners would have a 90-day grace period to turn in their weapons to authorities. Proponents of the proposition argue that  fewer handguns on the streets would lead to less violent crime, making the city safer for all of its citizens . Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the opposite effect. Since only law abiding citizens would honor the ban,  armed criminals would not only keep their weapons but would also have the confidence to act with impunity on a population that could no longer defend itself . In the letter to the editor, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

the main position is  Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the opposite effect

A. The first is an observation that the author uses to support a particular position; the second is that position.
 the second boldface is not the position... incorrect

B. The first is a pattern of cause and effect that the author believes to be true; the second offers evidence to contradict this pattern.
 close but the first cause and effect is not supported but argued against by the author... so incorrect

C. The first is a position that the author argues will not hold in this case; the second is the author’s position.
 same as A

D. The first is a prediction that the author believes to be untrue. The second is a statement of fact that undermines the author’s position.
 the second boldface is in support of author's position... so incorrect

E. The first is a direct relationship that the author believes will not hold in this case; the second offers evidence in support of the author’s position.
 correct...

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The author of the letter believes that the city’s proposed handgun ban will actually make the city a more dangerous place. In support of this prediction, the author offers the second boldfaced portion of the argument: an assertion that criminals will feel increased confidence to act since their victims will no longer be armed. This assertion contradicts the first boldfaced portion of the argument, a relationship between fewer guns and less violent crime cited by proponents of the ban.

(A) The first boldface portion argues that the handgun ban would lead to less violent crime, a position that directly contradicts the author’s stated position. The second boldface portion offers support for the author’s position, but is not the position itself.

(B) The first boldface portion is a pattern of cause and effect that the author believes not to be true in this case. By demonstrating that violent crime will increase, the second boldface portion does offer evidence to contradict the first boldface pattern.

(C) The first boldface portion does present a position that the author argues will not hold in this case. The second boldface portion, however, is not the author’s position; instead, it offers evidence in support of the author’s position.

(D) The first boldface portion is a prediction that the author believes to be untrue. The second boldface portion, however, does not undermine the author’s position that the handgun ban will increase violent crime. Instead, it supports the author’s position.

(E) CORRECT.  The first boldface portion shows a direct relationship between the number of handguns and violent crime; proponents cite this relationship to support the handgun ban, but the author refutes this relationship. The second boldface portion provides evidence to support the author’s position that the handgun ban will actually make the citizens of the city less safe.

aviram · Answer

Nice question. Its down to C and E and C is the tempting answer, which is so often the wrong choice. The second is not the author's position. The author's position is that the ban will have the opposite effect. Answer E correctly states that the first is a relationship that the author thinks won't hold and the second is the premise on which the author bases his position, which is that the ban won't work (because of the fact that criminals.... and the fact that people...).

AmoyV · Answer

Down to C and E.

In C, the 2nd BF is said to be the "author's position". This is not true. The 2nd BF is evidence in support of the "author's position". "Author's position" is " Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the opposite effect."- the line before the 2nd BF. Notice the keyword "Since" in the non-boldened part of the sentence carrying the 2nd BF? This again tells us that the author is talking about facts and hence this sentence will tell us about evidence and not the author's stand.

E is perfect as it removes the follies of C.

BF1: "direct relationship"-Check
"author believes"-Check
"in this case"-Check

BF2: "evidence"-Check
"in support of the author's position"-Check

shasadou · Answer

Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this year’s ballot, would
prohibit the ownership of handguns within the city’s limits. Under the plan, gun owners
would have a 90-day grace period to turn in their weapons to authorities. Proponents of the
proposition argue that  fewer handguns on the streets would lead to less violent crime,
making the city safer for all of its citizens.  Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the
opposite effect. Since only law abiding citizens would honor the ban,  armed criminals
would not only keep their weapons but would also have the confidence to act with
impunity on a population that could no longer defend itself.

1.  Evidence : "a plan to ban ownership of handguns, make gun owners to turn in their weapons to authorities".

2.  Main Conclusion  ( author believes the ban will make the city more dangerous rather ): "Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the opposite effect."
Premise: " Since only law abiding citizens would honor the ban, armed criminals
would not only keep their weapons but would also have the confidence to act with
impunity on a population that could no longer defend itself "

3.  Intermediate conclusion  (proponent's position): the ban will make " the city safer for all of its citizens "
Premise: " fewer handguns on the streets would lead to less violent crime "

(A) The first is an observation that the author uses to support a particular position; the second is that position.
B2 is not the position (conclusion) - it is a premise.

(B) The first is a pattern of cause and effect that the author believes to be true; the second makes a claim that contradicts this pattern.
The author does not believe it will come true.

(C) The first is a position that the author argues will not hold in this case; the second is the author’s position.
This one is tricky. Since the B1 unites both the intermediate conclusion (position that the author opposes) and the premise this should not be regarded as a solely a position. Let us see further.

(D) The first is a prediction that the author believes to be untrue. The second is a claim that undermines the author’s position. 
B2 does the opposite - it is the premise that the author uses to support his conclusion.

(E) The first is a direct relationship that the author believes will not hold in this case; the second makes a claim in support of the author’s position. 
As long as I don't like any of the above questions I choose E and I am done. However B2 is correctly named as a claim (premise) in support of the position. If I compare this description of B1 with the one in (C) I shall like (E) option because direct relationship sounds good to descrive a conlusion and a premise combined in one

anairamitch1804 · Answer

Official Explanation:

The author of the letter believes that the city’s proposed handgun ban will actually make the city a more dangerous place. In support of this prediction, the author offers the second boldfaced portion of the argument: an assertion that criminals will feel increased confidence to act since their victims will no longer be armed. This assertion contradicts the first boldfaced portion of the argument, a relationship between fewer guns and less violent crime cited by proponents of the ban.

(E) CORRECT. The first boldface portion shows a direct relationship between the number of handguns and violent crime; proponents cite this relationship to support the handgun ban, but the author refutes this relationship. The second boldface portion provides evidence to support the author’s position that the handgun ban will actually make the citizens of the city less safe.

or

1. There is a ban on guns proposed. 
2. Position 1: fewer guns lead to less crime and a safer city (proponents- bold 1) 
3. Position 2: The ban would lead to more crime and a more dangerous city (author) 
4. Criminals would keep their guns and have more confidence because there is no threat of retaliation with a weapon (bold 2)

Clearly the authors position is opposite the position that is boldfaced as statement 1.

Based on that knowledge you can eliminate A & B. The author believes boldface 2 holds true so you can eliminate D quickly, which leaves you with C and E.

In C they state that the 2nd boldface is the authors position. But is it? The answer is no. His position is that its a more dangerous city.

E is the correct answer. The position is that its a more dangerous city. Why is it a more dangerous city? Because the criminals will be the only ones to keep their guns. That is a claim that supports his position.

vivekraj5991 · Answer

Bunuel   KarishmaB 
I don't understand how the second boldface can be an evidence. It seems more like authors position. Because its also possible that along with few normal citizens the armed criminal too might return the guns back reducing the no of violent crimes. But here since the author assumes the criminals won't be returning the guns it seems more like a position author holds. So I feel " C " seems more appropriate here.

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

This is definitely a flawed question. The second bold is an opinion, and it is based on the previous portion (which is also an opinion!). That makes it an intermediate conclusion, not evidence. The GMAT seems pretty consistent in using the term "evidence" to refer to factual information.

KarishmaB · Answer

(C) is not correct because the second boldface is not the author's position. 
The author's position is "the ban would actually have the opposite effect" (the ban will make the city more unsafe)

He uses the second boldface to support his position - describing why and how the city will become more unsafe.
To be fair, his entire argument is based on his opinions and he doesn't use facts to support his position. 
Hence, given the options, I would choose (E) without hesitation but yes, I wouldn't really call second boldface evidence.

BongBideshini · Answer

Doubt option C:  egmat 
Whether the author's position is always the main conclusion or it can be any claim by the author.
As per my understanding, it could be any claim. I don't doubt that BF2 is an evidence, but i still can't grasp why BF2 is not an author's position as stated in option C.

egmat · Answer

Hi BongBideshini,

Your instinct that an "author's position" should be something the author actually believes is right. The fix is narrower than that: in a boldface question,  "the author's position" means the one main conclusion the author is arguing for - not just any claim the author happens to make.

An author makes lots of statements: a conclusion, plus the reasons that hold it up. All of them are "the author's," but only  one  is the  position . The rest are support for it.

So locate the author's single main claim here. It's the sentence right before BF2:  "the ban would actually have the opposite effect."  That is the position - the thing the whole letter is trying to convince you of.

Now read BF2: armed criminals keep their guns and act with impunity against a defenseless population. Ask the one diagnostic question -  is this the point being argued, or the reason given for that point?  It answers  "why  would the ban backfire?" That makes it  support for  the position, not the position itself. That's exactly why  C  fails: it promotes a supporting claim to "the position," and there can only be one.

Quick test to lock it in: take any argument and ask of each sentence,  "Is everything else here trying to make me believe  this ?"  Only the main conclusion gets a "yes" - and that's the position. BF2 doesn't; the opposite-effect sentence does.

That's why  E  is right: BF1 is a relationship the author rejects, and BF2 is support for the author's position.

Answer: E

Letter to the editor: Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this

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Letter to the editor: Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this

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