Official Explanation
1. Which of the following does the passage most clearly imply is true given the information stated about the problems caused by some improper translations?
Explanation
This is an inference question, as indicated by the phrase most clearly imply. The subject of the question is the problems caused by some improper translations. The task of the question is to determine what logically follows from what the passage says about the problems caused by some improper translations. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. According to the passage, potential flaws…give rise to serious concerns among potential consumers about the quality of the product. The passage also says that improperly translated instructions for certain electronic devices can put the user at risk of severe bodily harm.
Choice A: No. The use of the words safety and quality in this answer choice serve as memory traps for the words risky, harm, and improperly translated in the passage. The passage also discusses the disadvantages of utilizing non-professional translators and possible dangers they can cause in the second paragraph, but the phrase prohibit the use of non professional translators from this answer is extreme, since companies can still use them.
Choice B: Correct. The passage says that certain electronic devices can put the user at risk of severe bodily harm. The word certain indicates that not all electronic devices will have such an extreme effect if used incorrectly. Therefore, the passage supports the ideas that the severity of the consequences of a poor translation can vary.
Choice C: No. This answer relies on an emotional appeal by tying together the fear that consumers may have to the dangers the passage states that non-professional translators may pose. It also includes recycled language such as certain electronic devices to seem attractive. While the passage does mention serious concerns among potential customers, it does not indicate whether these concerns rise to the level of fear.
Choice D: No. This answer choice relies on outside knowledge. There may be some consumer electronic devices that require more than just a high quality translation for proper use, especially if the consumer is from a country in which the device is very uncommon. But this type of information is not offered by the passage.
Choice E: No. There is no such comparison in the passage that translating instructions for potentially harmful electronic devices is more difficult than translating instructions for other consumer electronics that have a higher overall safety rating. While the passage does state that improperly translated instructions for certain electronic devices can even put the user at risk of severe bodily harm, this does not mean that the instructions for those devices are more complicated or difficult to translate
The correct answer is choice B.
2. According to the passage, a company could rationalize the use of community-sourced translation, despite the risks inherent in this method, for which of the following reasons?
Explanation
The question is a retrieval question, as indicated by the phrase according to the passage. The subject of this question is a company could rationalize the use of community-sourced translation. The task of this question is to determine what reasons the passage gives for a company to rationalize the use of community-sourced translation. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. According to the passage, community-sourced translation…can prove invaluable to boosting sales…if the company has no budget for translation, the company is uncertain of the sales volume it can achieve in a particular country, a country has dialects that translators may not be familiar with, or translators for a particular language are difficult to find or expensive to employ.
Choice A: No. This choice uses the recycled language translation and budget. The passage says that community-sourced translation can prove invaluable…if the company has no budget for translation. There is no indication that the resulting translations are used for building a case for a translation budget.
Choice B: Correct. One of the reasons stated in the first paragraph for using community-sourced translation is to increase international transactions without a commensurate increase in expenditures. Because community-sourced translation is done on a volunteer basis, and can prove invaluable to boosting sales, it is a cost effective way of expanding…market share.
Choice C: No. This choice is tempting due to the recycled language translators and difficult. While the passage states that community-sourced translation can prove invaluable…if…translators are difficult to find, it does not indicate that these translators, who work on a volunteer basis, qualify as skilled translators.
Choice D: No. This choice is a memory trap. While the passage clearly states that community-sourced translation is used to increase international transactions without a commensurate increase in expenditures, the passage does not discuss all of the other costs that might go into selling consumer goods internationally. Sales increases and profit margins are separate concepts that are not linked in the passage.
Choice E: No. This choice is a reversal of information from the passage. According to the passage, any lesser-known company that relies on unpaid consumers to provide translations but doesn’t also employ professional proofreaders…opens itself to the possibility of costly lawsuits. This indicates that using community-sourced translation would result not in reducing the workload of the company’s proofreaders, but rather increasing it.
The correct answer is B.
3. The passage most clearly implies which of the following about the well-established and profitable consumer goods companies mentioned in the final paragraph?
Explanation
The question stem includes the word implies, which indicates that this is an inference question. The subject of this question is well-established and profitable consumer goods companies. The task of this question is to determine what the passage says about the well-established and profitable consumer goods companies mentioned in the final paragraph. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. According to the passage, such companies will derive minimal benefit from community-sourced translation. Therefore, the companies in question have little to gain from using community-sourced translation mentioned in the first paragraph because the companies are already well-established and profitable.
Choice A: No. The mention of international consumers makes this a recycled language trap because the passage says that community-sourced translation helps to increase international transactions. Since the passage claims that these companies will derive minimal benefit from community-sourced translation, this suggests that these companies already have a high enough volume without the need to utilize volunteer translators.
Choice B: No. This choice uses the extreme language any. According to the passage, some translators are difficult to find or expensive to employ. So, even if a company generally can afford to hire a professional, it may not be able to find someone suitable for any language desired.
Choice C: No. This choice uses the extreme language only, and the memory trap high-risk. While the passage states that improperly translated instructions for certain electronic devices can even put the user at risk of severe bodily harm, this indicates that the translated instructions, not the electronics themselves, are what causes risk. The passage does not specify whether well-established and profitable consumer goods companies sell these electronics, let alone only these electronics.
Choice D: No. The passage makes no such comparison that well-established and profitable consumer goods companies…have a wider pool of affordable and experienced translators than do other consumer goods companies. The passage merely states that well-established and profitable consumer goods companies will derive minimal benefit from community-sourced translation, and that any lesser-known company that relies on unpaid consumers to provide translations…opens itself to the possibility of costly lawsuits and irreversible loss of revenue.
Choice E: Correct. The passage states that these companies are already well-established and profitable, which implies that they currently enjoy success. Since community-sourced translation is used to increase international transactions, these companies do not need the additional revenue from international sales to be the deciding factor between their success and failure.
The correct answer is choice E.