HOT Competition 31 Aug/8AM: To the defenders of tenure in teaching, it

To the defenders of tenure in teaching, its predominant function is to safeguard public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability. Stability of employment expectations tends to enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession and may induce highly qualified persons to pursue a teaching career instead of more lucrative pursuits and is therefore, perhaps the biggest advantage of tenured professorship. However, since termination of tenured professors is literally impossible, tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers. Some fear that once a professor gains tenure he or she will go into neutral mode and stop producing. The inept are in fact, protected by tenure.

Which of the following best identifies the roles played by the boldfaced portions in the passage?


A. The first describes evidence presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; the second states the position that the argument seeks to establish.

B. The first presents a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second questions that support.

C. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.

D. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

E. The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

This question was provided by GMATWhiz for the Heroes of Timers Competition

 

GMATWhiz Explanation

1. To the defenders of tenure in teaching, its predominant function is to safeguard public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability.

a. This sentence sets the context. The author states the opinion of people who support tenure in teaching.

i. The supporters believe that the main function of tenures is to protect the public good. This is done by protecting academic freedom and by ensuring that academics (teachers) are answerable for their actions.

2. Stability of employment expectations tends to enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession and may induce highly qualified persons to pursue a teaching career instead of more lucrative pursuits and is therefore, perhaps the biggest advantage of tenured professorship.

a. In this sentence, the author talks about the biggest advantage of tenured professorship:

i. It provides stability of work
ii. Making teaching an attractive profession
iii. It might attract highly educated people to pursue teaching instead of pursuing something more profitable.

3. However, since termination of tenured professors is literally impossible, tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers.

a. The “however” indicates, we are going to face a contrast to the advantage of tenures.

i. Fact: Tenured professors cannot be fired.
ii. Disadvantage: Poor teachers might be getting the job security.
1. This sentence goes against the previous two sentences.

4. Some fear that once a professor gains tenure he or she will go into neutral mode and stop producing.

a. This sentence presents opinion of some people:

i. They fear that a tenure may turn a professor unproductive
ii. This is in fact another disadvantage of tenures.
iii. This supports the previous sentence.

5. The inept are in fact, protected by tenure.

a. This sentence emphasises the idea that tenures protect the incapable professors.

i. This too supports the third statement.

1. Role played by each boldface

a. The first provides supports for a third-party opinion.
b. The second conveys the main conclusion.

2. Relationship between the two

a. The two boldfaces are going in the opposite direction.
b. One is an advantage, the other a disadvantage.

3. Relationship vis-a-vis the conclusion

a. The first boldface provides information that goes against the main conclusion.
b. The second boldface is the main conclusion.

1. The first describes evidence

a. Since this sentence supporst the opinion of the defenders of tenure, it can be called an evidence. (correct)

2. presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose;

a. It goes against the main conclusion. (incorrect)

3. the second states the position

a. It can be called a “position” since it is a conclusion (correct)

4. that the argument seeks to establish

a. It is the main conclusion and hence the position that the argument wants to establish. (correct)

A. The first presents a premise

a. It is a premise provided in favour of tenures. (Correct)

B. that supports the main conclusion of the argument;

a. It goes against the main conclusion. (incorrect)

C. the second questions that support.

a. The second is the main conclusion which goes against the premise in the first boldface. (Correct)

1. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole;

a. This goes agaist the main conclusion. (Incorrect)

2. the second states the position

a. It is the main conclusion, hence a position. (Correct)

3. that the argument as a whole opposes.

a. The argument does not oppose this position as it is the conclusion of the argument.(Incorrect)

1. The first is evidence

a. Since this sentence supporst the opinion of the defenders of tenure, it can be called an evidence. (correct)

2. that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes;

a. It supports the defenders of the tenure while the argument is against it. (Correct)

3. the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

a. (Correct)

1. The first is a claim

a. It is an opinion and called be called a claim. (correct)

2. that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes;

a. It is supporting the defenders of tenures and the argumnet opposes them. (Correct)

3. the second is a claim

a. It is a conclusion and can be called a claim(Correct)

4. advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

a. It itself is the main conclusion. (incorrect)