Journalist: Every election year at this time the state government

Question

Journalist: Every election year at this time the state government releases the financial disclosures that potential candidates must make in order to be eligible to run for office. Among those making a financial disclosure this year is, for the first time ever, the prominent local businessman Arnold Bergeron. There has often been talk in the past of Mr. Bergeron’s running for governor, not least from Mr. Bergeron himself. This year it is likely he finally will, since even supporters of a Bergeron candidacy always conceded that the necessity of making financial disclosures might have proved an insuperable obstacle.

In the journalist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

In the journalist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

A. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second states the journalist’s conclusion.

B. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second identifies a position that the journalist argues against.

C. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second provides information that reinforces the journalist’s argument.

D. The first provides evidence in support of the journalist’s conclusion; the second states that conclusion.

E. The first provides evidence in support of the journalist’s conclusion; the second provides evidence bearing against that conclusion.

MartyMurray · Answer

Journalist: Every election year at this time the state government releases the financial disclosures that potential candidates must make in order to be eligible to run for office. Among those making a financial disclosure this year is, for the first time ever, the prominent local businessman Arnold Bergeron. There has often been talk in the past of Mr. Bergeron’s running for governor, not least from Mr. Bergeron himself. This year it is likely he finally will, since even supporters of a Bergeron candidacy always conceded that the necessity of making financial disclosures might have proved an insuperable obstacle.

In the journalist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

In the journalist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

Key to getting this Boldface question correct is identifying the main conclusion, which is this one little statement buried in the passage.

This year it is likely he finally will

We can tell that that's the main conclusion by seeing that it's an opinion of the author's that is supported by other statements in the passage.

Having identified that conclusion, we can also consider how the boldfaced portions relate to it.

Doing so, we see that the first boldfaced portion provides background information that serves as a foundation for everything that follows and that the second boldfaced portion is part of the evidence that supports the conclusion.

Set up with that understanding, we can now effectively consider the answer choices.

A. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second states the journalist’s conclusion.

The first part of this choice is correct because the background information provided by the boldfaced portion can be considered "information without which the argument lacks force."

However, this choice is not correct because the second boldfaced portion does not state the journalist's conclusion.

Eliminate.

B. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second identifies a position that the journalist argues against.

The first part of this choice is correct because the background information provided by the boldfaced portion can be considered "information without which the argument lacks force."

However, this choice is not correct because the journalist appears to agree with rather than "argues against" the second boldfaced portion.

Eliminate.

C. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second provides information that reinforces the journalist’s argument.

The first part of this choice is correct because the background information provided by the boldfaced portion can be considered "information without which the argument lacks force."

Also, the second part of this choice is correct because the second boldfaced portion "reinforces the journalist's argument" by playing a role in supporting the conclusion.

Keep.

D. The first provides evidence in support of the journalist’s conclusion; the second states that conclusion.

Neither part of this choice is correct because the first boldfaced portion does not provide evidence but rather background information and the second does not state the conclusion.

Eliminate.

E. The first provides evidence in support of the journalist’s conclusion; the second provides evidence bearing against that conclusion.

Neither part of this choice is correct because the first boldfaced portion does not provide evidence but rather background information and the second does is not "bearing against" the conclusion but rather helps to support it.

Eliminate.

Correct answer:   C

Bunuel · Answer

Similar question from GMAT Prep Focus mocks: https://gmatclub.com/forum/journalist-e ... 87144.html

guddo · Answer

Journalist: Every election year at this time the state government releases the financial disclosures that potential candidates must make in order to be eligible to run for office. Among those making a financial disclosure this year is, for the first time ever, the prominent local businessman Arnold Bergeron. There has often been talk in the past of Mr. Bergeron’s running for governor, not least from Mr. Bergeron himself. This year it is likely he finally will, since even supporters of a Bergeron candidacy always conceded that the necessity of making financial disclosures might have proved an insuperable obstacle.

In the journalist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

In the journalist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

The journalist concludes that Bergeron is likely to run for governor this year. The first boldface explains why making a financial disclosure matters: it is required for eligibility. The second boldface reinforces the argument by showing that the disclosure requirement may have been the major obstacle in the past.  Now that Bergeron has made the disclosure , that obstacle appears to have been removed.

A. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second states the journalist’s conclusion.

This is incorrect. The first part is right, but the second boldface is not the conclusion. The conclusion is that Bergeron is likely to run this year.

B. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second identifies a position that the journalist argues against.

This is incorrect. The second boldface is not a position the journalist argues against; it is part of the reason the journalist thinks Bergeron may finally run.

C. The first provides information without which the argument lacks force; the second provides information that reinforces the journalist’s argument.

This is correct. Without the first boldface, Bergeron’s disclosure would not clearly matter. The second boldface strengthens the inference by showing that financial disclosure was previously a serious  barrier  to his candidacy.

D. The first provides evidence in support of the journalist’s conclusion; the second states that conclusion.

This is incorrect. The second boldface is not the conclusion.

E. The first provides evidence in support of the journalist’s conclusion; the second provides evidence bearing against that conclusion.

This is incorrect. The second boldface does not weaken the conclusion. It helps explain why Bergeron’s disclosure is significant.

Answer: (C)

vasu1104 · Answer

BF 1 =  Every election year at this time the state government releases the financial disclosures that potential candidates must make in order to be eligible to run for office .
BF 2 =  the necessity of making financial disclosures might have proved an insuperable obstacle.

conclusion= This year it is likely he finally will

first is general fact and the whole argument is based on that. then arguments proceed by saying one of the name appear for the first time on that list. passage mentioned that that person was in news for running for governor but this time he will as he has disclosed his finances. so the second BF actually supports what journalists has said in first part.

A second is not conclusion. reject.
B second is not position that author argue against. out.
C perfect. first is the one on which the argument relies upon. second indeed reinforces journalist's view. keep.
D second is not conclusion. out.
E second doesnt go against the conclusion. out.

Journalist: Every election year at this time the state government

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Journalist: Every election year at this time the state government

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