Question 3
Shane04
GMATNinja can you please explain question 3?
Got down to options C and E but went with E since the author does mention a bizzare and exceptional case, whereas in the previous paragraph he mentions the reverse.
To understand the purpose of the last paragraph, first think through the structure of the passage as a whole:
- Paragraph 1: The author introduces an "unfortunate" situation. He/she doesn't like that companies frequently seek legal protection from import competition.
- Paragraph 2: The author gives a reason of why it is "unfortunate": international companies are so complex that import protection hurts more companies than it helps.
- Paragraph 3: The author further explains why import protection is "unfortunate": foreign companies can use the laws against US companies.
- Paragraph 4: The author give an example of the issue discussed in paragraph 3: A Dutch company operating in the US used the laws against a US company operating in Canada.
From this, we can see that the author is unhappy about the use of import protection laws. The second and third paragraphs explain issues with these laws, and the last paragraph gives us an example of the why the laws are not great.
Take another look at (C):
Quote:
(C) [Paragraph 4] discusses an exceptional case in which the results expected by the author of the passage were not obtained.
Remember, the author thinks these laws stink. He/she expects them to harm more than they help. The example in the last paragraph
goes along with that expectation: a US company ends up getting hurt.
Yes, the author does say that it is a "bizarre" case -- but it's bizarre because the laws are absurd, exactly as the author argued earlier in the passage. Because the example in paragraph 4 goes along with the author's argument, it's incorrect to say that it's "case in which the results expected by the author of the passage were not obtained."
(C) is out for question 3.
Here's (E):
Quote:
It cites a specific case that illustrates a problem presented more generally in the previous paragraph.
This is what we're looking for! The fourth paragraph provides an example of the issues discussed in the third paragraph.
(E) is the correct answer to question 3.
I hope that helps!