Electronic communications such as email, text messages, chat

Question

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

Electronic communications such as email, text messages, chats, and posts on the "walls" of social media sites are considered by psychologists to be "impersonal" forms of communication, meaning that the sender of the communication is distant from the receiver of the communication. This separation often results in misinterpretation by the recipient. Since such communications are also primarily one-way interactions, there is no chance for the sender of the communication to realize and correct the misinterpretation. Electronic communications should therefore be ____________.

(A) Used only when face-to-face communications are not possible.

(B) Written in straightforward language that is not liable to various different interpretations.

(C) Used in situations where personal communications might be embarrassing.

(D) Forbidden in professional occupations, such as medicine and law.

(E) Used as frequently as possible, due to the convenience of avoiding lengthy conversations.

mba1382 · Answer

IMO A ...Toss up between A & B

From the stem, we can conclude that Electronic communications is one way and therefore liable to misinterpretations. Hence we should avoid its use as far as possible.

Here we need to find an option that will rephrase our conclusion.

A)Used only when face-to-face communications are not possible. --  Correct. This allows us the possible rephrase, stating that we should use e-com only when face to face communication is not feasible as face to face communication is not one way and misinterpretations can be corrected as well.

B)Written in straightforward language that is not liable to various different interpretations. ---From the stem, we can not infer whether e-com could be written in a straight forward language and even if we did it's uncertain whether there will be misinterpretations or not. Basically this option can't inferred from stem

C)Used in situations where personal communications might be embarrassing.-- can't be inferred

D)Forbidden in professional occupations, such as medicine and law. ---Same as C

E)Used as frequently as possible, due to the convenience of avoiding lengthy conversations.---Same as C

Please provide OA along with OE to understand A & B.

mba1382 · Answer

Alas this might be wrong :-(

, I rethought it and I revert it to B. Tough one for me. I reverted simply because A infers too much. Please post OE.

gmatprav · Answer

I will go with A.

I think the conclusion of the stimulus is that  text messages and such types of communications are impersonal . The following sentences are more of a reason why such communications are impersonal.

"meaning that the sender of the communication is distant from the receiver of the communication. This separation often results in misinterpretation by the recipient. Since such communications are also primarily one-way interactions, there is no chance for the sender of the communication to realize and correct the misinterpretation."

The inference therefore would be how best to avoid impersonal communications.

C, D & E can be easily eliminated. As for B, there will still be impersonal touch to the message because it is not delivered in person. Also, B does not solve the problem of one-way messaging that is mentioned in the stimulus.

What is the OA?

AKG1593 · Answer

The confusion is just between A & B .Others are obviously out of scope.But went with A because the writer's tone is negative throughout the argument.
Then realised,as some posts have mentioned that A too is out of scope and B is doing the job fine.

Posted from my mobile device

AKG1593 · Answer

The confusion is just between A & B .Others are obviously out of scope.But went with A because the writer's tone is negative throughout the argument.
Then realised,as some posts have mentioned that A too is going too far and B is doing just fine.

Posted from my mobile device

semwal · Answer

THE CONTEST IS BETWEEN "A" AND "B"......

NOTE THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY.......

WE HAVE TO COMPLETE " Electronic communications should therefore be ____________."

A)Used only when face-to-face communications are not possible.. ....OF COURSE WE KNOW THIS....IF FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION WAS AVAILABLE- ONLY A FOOL WILL SIT ON INTERNET AND COMMUNICATE THROUGH IT... INTERNET IS MEANT FOR DISTANT COMMUNICATION ONLY.. .THE STIMULUS ALSO SAYS SO....AND I QUOTE.." Electronic communications are considered "impersonal" forms of communication, meaning that the sender of the communication is distant from the receiver......
INCORRECT...

B)Written in straightforward language that is not liable to various different interpretations... ...CORRECT....BE THOUGHTFUL TO USE straightforward language SO AS TO AVOID DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION unnecessarily......WHILE CARRYING OUT DISTANT COMMUNICATION...

rishabhmudgal · Answer

IMO b. I will explain the thought process if it helps. You need to realize that the question is asking for a solution taking its previously stated statement into consideration. Option A does not answer that.

sachin1304 · Answer

Went with A just because throughout writer was negative and he said that the  distance often results in misinterpretation . So, I feel it has to end with a conclusion which keeps this in to consideration as well.

shriramvelamuri · Answer

Agree with many. Answer should be A.

B does not make sense to me. Please could a senior person can look into the question.

Obviously, the only sensible options are A and B.

"Even if you write a st forward message, the message can be misinterpreted by the reader". It all depends on the reader's psychology. Hence it is safe to use the E-Messaging only when Face to face does not work.

Please correct me if wrong.

sleepynut · Answer

In my 2 cents
A)Used only when face-to-face communications are not possible.
 -- This choice just plays around with our outside knowledge.With the given information,we know nothing whether the face-to-face communications are better or whether this form of communication is more preferable than "impersonal forms of communication".

B)Written in straightforward language that is not liable to various different interpretations.
 -- This phrase summarizes the given information nicely;the concern of misinterpretation in "impersonal forms of communication" is taken care of.

C)Used in situations where personal communications might be embarrassing.
 -- Embarrassment is out of context.

D)Forbidden in professional occupations, such as medicine and law.
 -- Same as choice A.Trap with the outside knowledge-some people might think that these professional occupations require no ambiguity,but since no mention about this fact in the given information,it is out of scope.

E)Used as frequently as possible, due to the convenience of avoiding lengthy conversations.
 -- This is totally opposite with the tone of the passage.

Bunuel · Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

Correct Answer: B

Solution: B. This question requires the completion of a paragraph, the signal word just before the blank is "therefore" this is a conclusion word which indicates that the answer choice is a conclusion and this is an inference question. Four of the answer choices go beyond what is covered in the stimulus. Choices A and D propose limitation on the use of electronic communications that are not directly supported by the stimulus. Choice C speaks of embarrassing situations and is beyond the scope of the stimulus. Choice E is completely unsupported as the tone of the stimulus is caution in the use of electronic communication. Choice B is the answer that is most supported given that the stimulus is designed to point out the problems of misinterpretation of electronic messages.

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Montyyy95 . I am surprised to see so much dialogue above about option (A). It is a clear overstatement of the case. Notice the absolute language:

(A) Used  only when  face-to-face communications are not possible.

The psychologists in the passage mention  electronic communications  as  "impersonal" forms of communication , nothing more. Nowhere do they pass judgment on  when  people ought to use such forms of communication. The issue, rather, is one of  misinterpretation by the recipient , and the line that follows in the passage reinforces this notion, using that very word,  misinterpretation :

Since such communications are also primarily one-way interactions, there is no chance for the sender of the communication to realize and correct the misinterpretation.

We can conclude that the blank will necessarily tie into this notion of misinterpretation, and only choice (B) does so in a direct and supportable manner. To be honest, I saw choices (A) and (D) as one and the same, placing restrictions on  when  electronic communications ought to be used, with the former creating an absolute condition using  only  and the latter using  forbidden  instead. (Choice (C) is not as definitive with  might be , but the idea is similar.)

I hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

- Andrew

thenikhilseth · Answer

Correct choice is  B  option.

TIP :  When solving  Complete the logic questions , always pay attention to the last 2-3 lines and notice the thing to whom the author is giving importance.

Here that thing is  Different Interpretations.

A) Used only when face-to-face communications are not possible.

Limitation of Electronic communication,  no discussion about Interpretations .

(B) Written in straightforward language that is not liable to various different interpretations-   Correct

(C) Used in situations where personal communications might be embarrassing.
 Out of Scope

(D) Forbidden in professional occupations, such as medicine and law.
 Same as B
 
(E) Used as frequently as possible, due to the convenience of avoiding lengthy conversations.
 Completely opposite.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Electronic communications such as email, text messages, chat

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Electronic communications such as email, text messages, chat

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