Critic: As modern methods of communication and transportation have

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The summary of the passage looks like:
1. Improvement in technology has lead to --> faster pace in life
2. Faster speed of life has created --> feeling of impermanance
3. Feeling of instability has made us feel --> there's not enough time to achieve what we want

Options A, B and E are straight out cause neither of them are mentioned in the passage as all.

When is boils down to C and D, I chose D beaucse I put more emphasis in relation between feeling of impermanance and to know what people want to achieve. However, Option D states perception of impermanence makes it 'difficult' to know what people want which is not stated in the passage.

Option C is a better answer as it correlates to what's given in the passage that 'Improvement in technology has created a feeling of impermanance'.

(C) Changes in people’s feelings about life can result from technological changes.

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The critic's statements suggest that there is a connection between changes in people's feelings about life and technological changes. In this case, the critic is specifically referring to how modern methods of communication and transportation have accelerated the pace of life, leading to feelings of impermanence and instability. These feelings are a result of technological changes that have made life faster and more interconnected.

Option (C) states, "Changes in people’s feelings about life can result from technological changes." This aligns with the critic's perspective because the critic is essentially arguing that advancements in communication and transportation technologies have brought about changes in people's feelings about life, causing them to experience a sense of impermanence and instability.

While the critic's statements also touch on the consequences of these changes (feeling like there's not enough time to achieve what one wants), the core idea is that technological changes can influence people's emotions and perceptions about life. Therefore, option (C) is a reasonable choice as it encapsulates this central theme of the critic's argument.

why is A not the correct answer?

GMATNinja, KarishmaB
How to save myself to not select option D?

This speed has created feelings of impermanence and instability, making us feel as if we never have enough time to achieve what we want—or at least what we think we want.


(D) The perception of impermanence in contemporary life makes it more difficult for people to know what they want.

The perception of impermanence in contemporary life makes people feel as if they don't have enough time to achieve what they want. When the sentence uses 'or at least what we think we want,' there is no indication that we may not know what we want because of these feelings.
The only thing being said is that these feelings make us feel that we don't have time to achieve what we want or even if it is not what we want, to achieve what we think we want. The feelings are in no way the cause of not knowing what we want.

Hence (D) is not correct.

Critic: As modern methods of communication and transportation have continued to improve, the pace of life today has become faster than ever before. This speed has created feelings of impermanence and instability, making us feel as if we never have enough time to achieve what we want—or at least what we think we want.
The critic’s statements most closely conform to which one of the following assessments?

(A) The fast pace of modern life has made it difficult for people to achieve their goals. - WRONG. Achieving goals in real life is irrelevant.
(B) The disadvantages of technological progress often outweigh the advantages. - WRONG. Irrelevant.
(C) Changes in people’s feelings about life can result from technological changes. - CORRECT. Proper causation elaborated.
(D) The perception of impermanence in contemporary life makes it more difficult for people to know what they want. - WRONG. Whether it makes difficult or not is not the core of the passage.
(E) Changes in people’s feelings fuel the need for technological advancement. - WRONG. Causation reversed here which is wrong.

Answer C.