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aaa2007
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It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The 01 Aug 2018, 12:03
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skamal7
It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The Red Paint People” first occupied the coast of Maine in approximately 3000 B.C. This name was given to the Indians because their graves contained quantities of a red pigment (iron ochre) that they presumably used to decorate their faces and bodies. However, recently discovered Indian grave sites on the coast of Maine that contain these same red pigments have been conclusively dated to 4000 B.C. Therefore, the “Red Paint People” must have occupied the coast of Maine much earlier than archaeologists previously believed.

In the argument above, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first is a commonly held belief that the argument seeks to refute; the second is evidence used in that refutation.

(B) The first is a generalization that the argument accepts as true; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

(C) The first is evidence used to support a conclusion that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

(D) The first is a conclusion that is generally accepted as true; the second is a conclusion that refutes it.

(E) The first is an intermediate conclusion that is generally accepted as true; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
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I understand that the first Boldface is not an evidence. However, i fail to understand why it is termed as a conclusion. Shouldn't it be a premise, since the entire argument is built up on the first BF? Please help!
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It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The 26 Mar 2019, 03:19
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VeritasKarishma GMATNinja

How is first BF a conclusion? Isn't it a belief or generalization that argument seeks to oppose??
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zeyneptuzun
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It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The 07 Jun 2019, 14:25
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How can we determine that the first sentence is a conclusion? The "why" test doesn't work here.
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It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The 07 Jun 2019, 20:52
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ANALYZE EACH ANSWER:

A) The first is a commonly held belief that the argument seeks to refute; the second is evidence used in that refutation.
Wrong. Because it starts with “therefore”, the second part is a conclusion, not evidence.

B) The first is a generalization that the argument accepts as true; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Wrong. SHELL GAME. The first is a generalization that archeaologists believed to be true, not the argument accepts as true. The argument actually refutes the archeaologists’ belief.

C) The first is evidence used to support a conclusion that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Wrong. The first is not an evidence, it’s a conclusion because it starts with “it is generally believed that….”.

D) The first is a conclusion that is generally accepted as true; the second is a conclusion that refutes it.
IMO, Correct. The first is a conclusion that the second tries to refute. The second is the main conclusion of the argument.

- Read 1 st boldface than follwing argument (judge from this paragraph that following argument support the 1st boldface]
- Now Read 2nd argument which includes 1st boldface items also and now 2nd boldface exactly refuting 1st bold face]

E) The first is an intermediate conclusion that is generally accepted as true; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Wrong. If the first is an intermediate conclusion, the second is main conclusion. Logically, the first should support the second, but it does not.

Waiting for OA.
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It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The 06 Oct 2023, 01:24
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I am having a hard time understanding this question
Options D and E look equally good and bad at the same time

For Option D
1. How is the first boldface "a conclusion"? Where is the support to derive this conclusion?
2. The 2nd BF is fine

For Option E
1. The 1st BF cannot be a conclusion again. However, it does seem like a statement that is "generally" accepted as true. The argument does not advocate its validity, but the statement in itself can be accepted as a "generally true statement".
2. The 2nd BF is fine.

I saw a similar question here - https://gmatclub.com/forum/letter-to-th ... 70567.html
There is a mention of "a conclusion" in the right answer choice. My aforementioned conundrum stands true here as well. How can we justify something as a "conclusion" without giving supporting statements to derive such said conclusion?

I believe I am missing something.
Experts, please advise. Thank you.
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It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The 28 May 2025, 11:27
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