Last visit was: 14 Jul 2025, 17:02 It is currently 14 Jul 2025, 17:02
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
AshutoshB
Joined: 07 Dec 2017
Last visit: 16 Jan 2022
Posts: 323
Own Kudos:
2,070
 [26]
Given Kudos: 348
GMAT 1: 650 Q50 V28
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V40
Products:
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 323
Kudos: 2,070
 [26]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
16
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 14 July 2025
Posts: 7,353
Own Kudos:
68,537
 [5]
Given Kudos: 1,966
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,353
Kudos: 68,537
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
Pat85
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Last visit: 06 Dec 2018
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 32
Posts: 1
Kudos: 1
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Sandy56
Joined: 09 Jul 2018
Last visit: 29 Aug 2018
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 8
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Help please! need explanation for the answer
avatar
deepikaverma7777
Joined: 26 Nov 2017
Last visit: 14 Oct 2018
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hi!!
why not C? can anyone please guide..
User avatar
kungfupanda1306
Joined: 05 Apr 2018
Last visit: 05 May 2023
Posts: 114
Own Kudos:
32
 [2]
Given Kudos: 76
Location: India
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40 (Online)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40 (Online)
Posts: 114
Kudos: 32
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A) It states the conclusion. No, the conclusion is “But this is a specious distinction-not because every work should be interpreted, but because no work should be. ”

(B) It is offered as support for the conclusion. Yes.. it’s a premise supporting the conclusion

(C) It attempts to spell out the practical implications of the critic's conclusion. .... nope.. the conclusion is that no work should be interpreted. So the boldface is actually an implication if one interprets the work....

(D) It attempts to explain the nature of the distinction that the critic considers. No

(E) It attempts to anticipate an objection to the critic's conclusion. No
avatar
srikalivarapu
Joined: 04 Sep 2019
Last visit: 04 Mar 2021
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Posts: 25
Kudos: 38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
when we say the conclusion is "But this is a specious distinction-not because every work should be interpreted, but because no work should be". any other fact that is mentioned in the above passage would be something that offers support to the conclusion.(option B).
if there is line (bold) that the conclusion leads to wouldn't that be the new conclusion ? hence I think option "C" is wrong.
User avatar
RohitSaluja
Joined: 02 Aug 2020
Last visit: 21 Sep 2024
Posts: 214
Own Kudos:
90
 [1]
Given Kudos: 254
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Healthcare
Schools: HEC'22 (J)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
GPA: 3.8
WE:Consulting (Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals)
Products:
Schools: HEC'22 (J)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 214
Kudos: 90
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AshutoshB
Critic: It is common to argue that there is a distinction between "literary" and "genre" fiction. The first should be interpreted, so this argument goes, while the second is merely a source of easy pleasure. But this is a specious distinction-not because every work should be interpreted, but because no work should be. When we evaluate a work principally for its themes and ideas, we cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played by the BOLDFACE


(A) It states the conclusion.

(B) It is offered as support for the conclusion.

(C) It attempts to spell out the practical implications of the critic's conclusion.

(D) It attempts to explain the nature of the distinction that the critic considers.

(E) It attempts to anticipate an objection to the critic's conclusion.

LSAT

I was surprised looking at the difficulty level of this question. Not sure whether my approach was correct or not, but below is how I tackled the questions.

Look at the last line in the argument but because no work should be. When we evaluate a work principally for its themes and ideas, we cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact.. Given we have both premise and conclusion indicator, the first phrase that follows "No work should be" is a conclusion - attached with conclusion indicator and second clause is a premise. Hence B is straight answer
avatar
vijayram2496
Joined: 25 Jan 2020
Last visit: 24 May 2022
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 21
Posts: 27
Kudos: 17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Why cant it be D? Please give expalanation

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
MBAB123
Joined: 05 Jul 2020
Last visit: 30 Jul 2023
Posts: 564
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 151
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
WE:Accounting (Accounting)
Products:
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
Posts: 564
Kudos: 313
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
vijayram2496
Hi Why cant it be D? Please give expalanation

Posted from my mobile device

vijayram2496, simply because the statement does not even talk about distinction. Why do you think it should be D? Happy to discuss this further! :)
User avatar
Mavisdu1017
Joined: 10 Aug 2021
Last visit: 04 Jan 2023
Posts: 361
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 226
Posts: 361
Kudos: 43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hello expert,
Same as some comrades asked above, I don't know how to eliminate C, as B and C are almost the same meaning to me.
Hope an expert help to explain, and thanks in advance.
User avatar
Mavisdu1017
Joined: 10 Aug 2021
Last visit: 04 Jan 2023
Posts: 361
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 226
Posts: 361
Kudos: 43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja
Mavisdu1017
hello expert,
Same as some comrades asked above, I don't know how to eliminate C, as B and C are almost the same meaning to me.
Hope an expert help to explain, and thanks in advance.
The "implications" of an argument are the expected results that follow a conclusion. A piece of support for a conclusion, by contrast, is a reason why the author has reached his/her conclusion.

Here, the author includes the last sentence as a reason why "no work should be [interpreted]." He/she thinks that FAILING to follow the conclusion makes us "cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact." That provides some evidence that we should indeed agree with the author's conclusion.

It definitely doesn't fit as an "implication" of the conclusion, because it actually talks about what would happen if we DIDN'T go along with the conclusion, instead of a result of following the conclusion.

I hope that helps!
GMATNinja Much thx for your input expert, but I think I might not understand well what you said. You said "the BF actually talks about what would happen if we DIDN'T go along with the conclusion", but I can't understand what "emotional impact" has something to do with "interpreted". Mind to explain further?
User avatar
iamthebest8055
Joined: 01 Aug 2022
Last visit: 29 Jan 2024
Posts: 3
Location: India
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
please explain me all the options.... giving brief reason why cant they be chosen
User avatar
VKat
Joined: 15 Jun 2016
Last visit: 14 May 2023
Posts: 91
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 741
Posts: 91
Kudos: 24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello Team,
Please help why can't it be option d?

Is the author not elaborating the specious distinction?
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 14 July 2025
Posts: 7,353
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,966
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,353
Kudos: 68,537
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mavisdu1017
GMATNinja
Mavisdu1017
hello expert,
Same as some comrades asked above, I don't know how to eliminate C, as B and C are almost the same meaning to me.
Hope an expert help to explain, and thanks in advance.
The "implications" of an argument are the expected results that follow a conclusion. A piece of support for a conclusion, by contrast, is a reason why the author has reached his/her conclusion.

Here, the author includes the last sentence as a reason why "no work should be [interpreted]." He/she thinks that FAILING to follow the conclusion makes us "cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact." That provides some evidence that we should indeed agree with the author's conclusion.

It definitely doesn't fit as an "implication" of the conclusion, because it actually talks about what would happen if we DIDN'T go along with the conclusion, instead of a result of following the conclusion.

I hope that helps!
GMATNinja Much thx for your input expert, but I think I might not understand well what you said. You said "the BF actually talks about what would happen if we DIDN'T go along with the conclusion", but I can't understand what "emotional impact" has something to do with "interpreted". Mind to explain further?
The connection between the "emotional impact" of a work and "interpreting" that work is at the heart of the author's logic. The idea, according to the passage, is that if we start to interpret a work, we will "cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact." So, we should NOT interpret a work. Because if we DO interpret a work, we "cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact."

I hope that helps!
User avatar
unraveled
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Last visit: 10 Apr 2025
Posts: 2,727
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 763
Location: India
WE:Sales (Energy)
Posts: 2,727
Kudos: 2,168
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Critic: It is common to argue that there is a distinction between "literary" and "genre" fiction. The first should be interpreted, so this argument goes, while the second is merely a source of easy pleasure. But this is a specious distinction-not because every work should be interpreted, but because no work should be. When we evaluate a work principally for its themes and ideas, we cut ourselves off from the work's emotional impact.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played by the BOLDFACE

(A) It states the conclusion. - WRONG. Conclusion is " 'literary' should be interpreted, while 'genre' is merely a source of easy pleasure is a specious distinction because no work should be interpreted".

(B) It is offered as support for the conclusion. - CORRECT,

(C) It attempts to spell out the practical implications of the critic's conclusion. - WRONG. Although this I chose but i had my apprehension choosing this over B, and it was because of "practical implications". What does that mean? No such thing is elaborated in the passage as such. The BOLDFACE is a generic statement made in support to conclusion.

(D) It attempts to explain the nature of the distinction that the critic considers. - WRONG. Irrelevant.

(E) It attempts to anticipate an objection to the critic's conclusion. - WRONG. Irrelevant.

Answer B.
User avatar
ashutosh_73
Joined: 19 Jan 2018
Last visit: 30 Oct 2024
Posts: 237
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 86
Location: India
Posts: 237
Kudos: 1,271
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If you are stuck between (B) and (C):

If I were to conclude that "making a distinction between literary fiction and genre fiction is specious/dumb", then the practical implication of that conclusion would be "I will no longer make that distinction nor respect it when other people do so."

If I were to conclude that "no work should be interpreted", then the practical implication would be "next time I read a work, I won't try to interpret it ... I'll just let it emotionally impact me however it does."

A 'practical implication', in other words, would be how our behavior or thinking will change as a result of a certain claim being true.

Meanwhile, that last sentence, which you highlighted, is not practical / actionable advice. It's the reason FOR the conclusion that "we shouldn't interpret any work". Why not? Because doing so cuts us off from the work's emotional impact.

If we accept that rationale, and we think staying attuned to emotional impact is so important that we would agree with the conclusion that "no work should be interpreted", then the practical implication would be "stop trying to interpret works".
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,446
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,446
Kudos: 953
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7353 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts