The Economic Council’s declaration that budget cuts

Editor: The Economic Council’s declaration that budget cuts are effectively insignificant because there is no evidence that such cuts lead to lower economic growth is irresponsible and self-serving. A recent study has shown that budget cuts lead to a reduction in a country’s income over a long term period. Since these cuts are usually enforced following an increase in national debt, which in turn has an impact on a country’s income, budget cuts clearly curtail a country’s long-term economic growth.

In the editor’s argument, the statements in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is an intermediate conclusion that supports the position taken by the argument; the second is that position. - Correct Choice - by POE
B. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides a reason to support an intermediate conclusion drawn in the argument. - First BF is not main conclusion
C. The first and the second both provide evidence in support of the position taken by the argument. - No evidence provided by BF1 & BF2
D. The first is the position taken by the argument; the second is an intermediate conclusion that supports that position. - 2nd is the main conclusion of the argument
E. The first provides evidence supporting a conclusion stated in the argument; the second is the author’s main conclusion.- First BF is not an evidence but a statement made by the author

first is the main conclusion of the argument . Second provides the reason why that conclusion is true. only option D fits.

Not sure about this one.
Anyway here is my thought process.

A. The first is an intermediate conclusion that supports the position taken by the argument; the second is that position.
If this is the case, what is the main conclusion? Shouldn't every argument have a main conclusion? If this option is correct then please tell me what is the main conclusion. IMO this option is NOT correct.

B. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides a reason to support an intermediate conclusion drawn in the argument:
This option seems correct, it says first BF is the main conclusion , which is acceptable.
The second BF provides reason to support an intermediate conclusion, what is the intermediate conclusion? IMO "A recent study has shown that budget cuts lead to a reduction in a country’s income over a long term period" is the intermediate conclusion.


C. The first and the second both provide evidence in support of the position taken by the argument.
First BF is certainly not an evidence, is it? It is the editors view on The Economic Council’s declaration. Can this be considered as evidence? No IMO.
Again if First BF and Second BF are evidence ,then what is the main conclusion of the argument? Assuming every argument needs to have a main conclusion.

D.The first is the position taken by the argument; the second is an intermediate conclusion that supports that position.
Very tempting choice,again in choosing this option I couldn't find the main conclusion of the argument. What is the main conclusion if the First BF is simply a position? Maybe this option is correct. Maybe all argument's need not have a main conclusion. OR may be the main conclusion is something else , but which I couldn't find.

E.The first provides evidence supporting a conclusion stated in the argument; the second is the author’s main conclusion.

Rejected this by seeing that the first BF is an evidence.

IMO B
In the OE please do provide the main conclusion of the argument. It would be a good learning process. Thank you.
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Option A seems right as second statement is the conclusion
Option B doesn't seem right the first statement is not the definitive conclusion
Option C not right as neither statement provide any evidence
Option D First statement is not the final claim
Option E First statement does not provide any evidence

I'd go with option A

Answer:D

My thought process was::

A. The first is an intermediate conclusion that supports the position taken by the argument; the second is that position.A could be true, but 1st is not supporting 2nd, so not exactly true.
B. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides a reason to support an intermediate conclusion drawn in the argument.2nd is not the reason
C. The first and the second both provide evidence in support of the position taken by the argument. not true
D. The first is the position taken by the argument; the second is an intermediate conclusion that supports that position.could be true as 2nd is a conclusion but it also supports 1st.
E. The first provides evidence supporting a conclusion stated in the argument; the second is the author’s main conclusion.1st is not evidence



so option D fits best, it was more of eliminating the wrong choices instead of figuring out the right one straight up.

Hope it helps!

Only A and D are the contenders. The second BF is the main conclusion and not the intermediate conclusion-so A for me-will be interested to see the OE by egmat

Dear Skywalker,
Do you not have the official explanation ( OE) for this one , as you have only provided the official answer ( OA).

if First BF is the position and second BF is the intermediate conclusion , what is the main conclusion?

Can the terms " Position" and " Conclusion " be used interchangeably. Do they mean the same thing? If not please provide main conclusion of the argument. Or is there no main conclusion?

Thank you.
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Imo D
The Economic Council’s declaration that budget cuts are effectively insignificant because there is no evidence that such cuts lead to lower economic growth is irresponsible and self-serving.
It is position takes by the argument .
budget cuts clearly curtail a country’s long-term economic growth. is intermediate conclusion that supports the main conclusion.

GMATNinja could you please clarify why A is wrong. I came down to A & D but chose A

What's the main conclusions of the argument ?? And how it supports ?anyone please explain

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How to determine the intermediate conclusion and main conclusion in this question? Stuck between A and D and chose A. Please explain.

Pre-thinking:

The best way to arrive at the conclusion and premises is by asking the question "Why?". Why is a statement being made? If X is based on/because of some other statements (say, Y) in the passage, then X is the conclusion and Y are the premises. When we have a structure such as X --> Y --> Z, then X are the premises for the intermediate conclusion Y. Z then acts as the main conclusion.

In the above passage:

i) The Economic Council’s declaration that budget cuts are effectively insignificant because there is no evidence that such cuts lead to lower economic growth is irresponsible and self-serving.
ii) Budget cuts lead to a reduction in a country’s income over a long term period.
iii) These cuts are usually enforced following an increase in national debt, which in turn has an impact on a country’s income.
iv) Budget cuts clearly curtail a country’s long-term economic growth.

The Council's declaration is irresponsible. Why? Because budget cuts curtail a country's economic growth. Why? Because they are enforced following an increase in national debt. Why? We don't have the answer to this last "why?" in the passage. The chain of causality clearly is:

(ii) & (iii) --> (iv) --> (i)

Therefore, (ii) & (iii) act as premises for the intermediate conclusion (iv), which is the second bold faced portion (BF2) and (i), the first bold faced portion (BF1) is the main conclusion/position taken by the argument.

Let us examine the answer options:

A. The first is an intermediate conclusion that supports the position taken by the argument; the second is that position. BF1 is not an intermediate conclusion for the argument - it is the final conclusion. Eliminate.

B. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides a reason to support an intermediate conclusion drawn in the argument. BF2 does not provide reasons to support an intermediate conclusion - it is itself the intermediate conclusion. Eliminate.

C. The first and the second both provide evidence in support of the position taken by the argument. BF1 does not provide evidence to support the position taken by the argument - it is itself the position taken by the argument. Eliminate.

D. The first is the position taken by the argument; the second is an intermediate conclusion that supports that position. Correct answer and consistent with our pre-thinking.

E. The first provides evidence supporting a conclusion stated in the argument; the second is the author’s main conclusion. Same error as (C). Also, BF2 is not the main conclusion, BF1 is. Eliminate.

Hope this helps.
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egmat, if you can help
I was confused w A and D, BF 2 seems to be main conclusion, main point made by Editor is not that the Economist's claim is irresponsible and self serving but BF2 - budget cuts clearly curtail a country’s long-term economic growth.