Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 17:41 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 17:41
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
guddo
Joined: 25 May 2021
Last visit: 30 Oct 2025
Posts: 360
Own Kudos:
8,676
 [40]
Given Kudos: 19
Posts: 360
Kudos: 8,676
 [40]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
33
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
MartyMurray
Joined: 11 Aug 2023
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,632
Own Kudos:
6,127
 [8]
Given Kudos: 173
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 1,632
Kudos: 6,127
 [8]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Heema22
Joined: 17 Jun 2022
Last visit: 17 Nov 2025
Posts: 21
Own Kudos:
19
 [7]
Given Kudos: 27
Location: India
Posts: 21
Kudos: 19
 [7]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
push1028
Joined: 10 Aug 2023
Last visit: 01 Feb 2024
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 1
Kudos: 1
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MartyMurray

Hi,

Can you help me comprehend the last line of the second paragraph : protecting its own systems while competitors' systems are attacked. in the context of the above lines? Thanks a lot!
User avatar
ernest9329
Joined: 02 Apr 2024
Last visit: 01 May 2024
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
2
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 1
Kudos: 2
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Heema22
MartyMurray

In Q1, it is given in the passage that OS and Software are mentioned separately in P1

and then in P2 it is mentioned "First, many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities."

So why are we deriving that they have tested BOTH software and the OS??

I know its the official mock question and the answer they have given is E only, but this seems off, especially when the options have so many pnc of OS and software tested not tested
­I have the same question. Isn't OS things like Linux, Windows, MacOS, while software include things like Microsoft Office, Google Chrome etc? There is no mentioning that the governments and companies research their OSs - i.e., the actual operating system rather than individual software. 
User avatar
mollyweasley
Joined: 15 Oct 2020
Last visit: 12 Jul 2025
Posts: 33
Own Kudos:
31
 [1]
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 33
Kudos: 31
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel is this really a sub 505 level question? Q1 seems quite hard.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,390
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,390
Kudos: 778,372
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
 
mollyweasley
Bunuel is this really a sub 505 level question? Q1 seems quite hard.
­The difficulty level of a question on the site, after sufficient attempts, is determined automatically based on various parameters collected from users' attempts via timer, such as the percentage of correct answers and the time taken to answer the question. For reading comprehension questions, the difficulty level is the average of the difficulties of the individual questions.­
User avatar
carcass
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 01 Sep 2010
Last visit: 17 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,754
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4,856
Posts: 4,754
Kudos: 37,015
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
­
Quote:
The difficulty level of a question on the site, after sufficient attempts, is determined automatically based on various parameters collected from users' attempts via timer, such as the percentage of correct answers and the time taken to answer the question. For reading comprehension questions, the difficulty level is the average of the difficulties of the individual questions.­


­Make sense this. 100% But sometimes does not reflect the magnitude of the questions' difficulty­
User avatar
mkeshri185
Joined: 01 May 2025
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 90
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 90
Kudos: 1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have issue with the 3rd Que. The que talks about 3rd paragraph but 'deliberately' not taking advantage is mentioned in 2nd paragrpah how can it be the correct answer? The third para talks about that Software companies may provide the update but the govt or company using it might still be vulnerable. Then talks about some reasons that it may require time for updating or it may arise some conflict. But nowhere it is mentioned or signaled in 3rd para that it is 'deliberate'. Deliberate is talked in 2nd para
MartyMurray
Explanation for Question 1

1. Given the information in the passage, which of the following statements is the author of the passage most likely to believe?

A. To identify vulnerabilities, many companies and governments research their OSS but not their other software.

Scanning the passage for "research" and "software," we find the following:


many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities

We say that the passage says that companies and governments research "all their software," so both OSS and other software.

Eliminate.

B. Many of the vulnerabilities first identified in OSS are the same as vulnerabilities found in other software.

The passage does not say that vulnerabilities identified in OSS are the same as vulnerabilities in other software.

Eliminate.

C. To identify vulnerabilities, many companies and governments research their non-OS software but not their OSS.

Scanning the passage for "research" and "software," we find the following:


many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities

We see that the passage says that companies and governments research "all their software," so both non-OS software and OSS.

Eliminate.

D. Many of the vulnerabilities first identified in non-OS software are the same as vulnerabilities found in OSS.

The passage does not say that vulnerabilities identified in non-OS software are the same as vulnerabilities in OSS.

Eliminate.

E. To identify vulnerabilities, many companies and governments research both their OSs and their other software.

Scanning the passage for "research" and "software," we find the following:


many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities

We see that the passage says that companies and governments research "all their software," so both their OSs and their other software, as this choice says.

The correct answer is (E).

Explanation for Question 2

2. Which of the following most accurately describes the function of the first paragraph?

Reviewing the passage, we see that it's structured in the following way:

The first paragraph begins by stating the importance of "securing digital information."

It next introduces the concept of "large-scale risks arising from easily correctable vulnerabilities in commonly used operating systems (OSS) or other software."

Then, it poses the question "But if these vulnerabilities are known and easily correctable, why do they remain such a high risk?

Finally, it states that "There are two primary reasons."

Then, the second and third paragraphs present those "two primary reasons," one in each paragraph.

A. It states a thesis that is supported by each of the other two paragraphs.

The passage does not state a thesis in the first paragraph. Rather, it asks a question that is answered by the second and third paragraphs.

Eliminate.

B. It defines the essential characteristics of a term, and the other two paragraphs report how the term is used in government and business.

The first paragraph does not define a term, and the second and third paragraphs do not say how a term is used.

Eliminate.

C. It expresses a question that is answered affirmatively in the second paragraph and negatively in the third.

This choice is half right, in that the first paragraph does express a question: "But if these vulnerabilities are known and easily correctable, why do they remain such a high risk?"

However, the second and third paragraphs don't answer that question "affirmatively," or "yes," or "negatively," or "no." In fact, the question is not even a yes/no question that could be answered affirmatively or negatively.

Rather, the question asks, "Why?" and the second and third paragraphs present reasons why the vulnerabilities remain a high risk.

Eliminate.

D. It describes a problematic situation, and the subsequent two paragraphs explain why that situation exists.

This choice describes exactly what the paragraphs do.

The first paragraph describes a problematic situation in which "there are also large-scale risks arising from easily correctable vulnerabilities in commonly used operating systems (OSS) or other software, and these vulnerabilities are known by at least some companies or governments."

Then, the second and third paragraphs present reasons "why that situation exists."

Keep.

E. It presents well-known evidence for a given phenomenon, and the other two paragraphs support that evidence.

The first paragraph does present a "phenomenon," that "there are also large-scale risks arising from easily correctable vulnerabilities in commonly used operating systems (OSS) or other software, and these vulnerabilities are known by at least some companies or governments."

However, it presents no evidence for that phenomenon, and the second and third paragraphs do not provide support for any evidence. Rather, they present explanations.

Eliminate.

The correct answer is (D).

Explanation for Question 3

3. Which of the following is the closest analogy for the scenario described in the third paragraph?

Reviewing the third paragraph, we see that the scenario involves a way to address an issue, software vulnerability, being available but not used.

A. A farmer's crop was damaged by a rare disease, but some of the crop was salvaged.

The scenario in the third paragraph involves a vulnerability, not damage, and does not involve salvage.

Eliminate.

B. An attorney disclosed evidence to an opposing attorney, but neither attorney used the evidence at trial.

This choice does involve something not being used as does the scenario described by the third paragraph, but this scenario seems different in that there is no issue that remains unaddressed.

Keep in case there's no better choice.

C. A customer complains to a retail store about a recently purchased product, but the retail store refused to issue a refund to the customer.

The scenario described by this choice involves an issue, one with a product, as the scenario described by the third paragraph does, but it does not involve a fix that goes unused.

Eliminate.

D. A manufacturer recalls a defective product, but some owners of the product deliberately choose not to have it fixed.

Like the scenario described by the third paragraph, the scenario described by this choice involves an issue, defectiveness of a product, and a way to address that issue that goes unused.

Keep.

E. A corporation has a policy that is supposed to regulate how two divisions interact, but the policy will soon be changed.

The scenario described by this choice has basically nothing in common with the scenario described by the third paragraph. After all, in this scenario, there is no issue and no way to address an issue that goes unused.

Eliminate.

Since the scenario described by (D) is clearly analogous to the scenario described by the third paragraph whereas the scenario described by (B) has only an issue and not a way to address that issue, we'll choose (D) over (B).

The correct answer is (D).
User avatar
egmat
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,108
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 700
GMAT Date: 08-19-2020
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,108
Kudos: 32,887
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mkeshri185
I have issue with the 3rd Que. The que talks about 3rd paragraph but 'deliberately' not taking advantage is mentioned in 2nd paragrpah how can it be the correct answer? The third para talks about that Software companies may provide the update but the govt or company using it might still be vulnerable. Then talks about some reasons that it may require time for updating or it may arise some conflict. But nowhere it is mentioned or signaled in 3rd para that it is 'deliberate'. Deliberate is talked in 2nd para

mkeshri185

Looking at your concern about the word "deliberately" in answer choice D - this is actually a great question that highlights an important GMAT Reading Comprehension principle!

Understanding "Deliberate" in Context

You're absolutely right that the third paragraph doesn't explicitly use the word "deliberate." However, the GMAT expects us to recognize implied meaning from the information given. Let's examine what the third paragraph actually tells us:

Key Evidence from Paragraph 3:
  1. Companies/governments don't take advantage of free updates
  2. They have reasons for not updating: "inconvenient at that time" OR "may create a conflict"
  3. These are conscious considerations, not accidents

What Makes an Action "Deliberate"?

When someone chooses not to do something for specific reasons, that's a deliberate choice. Consider this:
  • If updating is "inconvenient at that time" → the entity is choosing convenience over security
  • If it "may create a conflict with other software" → the entity is weighing options and deciding against updating

These aren't cases where people forgot or didn't know about updates - they're making conscious decisions based on their priorities.

Why Answer Choice D is Correct:

The analogy works perfectly:
  • Software company = Manufacturer (both identify the problem)
  • Free update = Free recall fix (both offer solutions at no cost)
  • Not updating due to inconvenience/conflicts = Deliberately choosing not to fix (both involve conscious decisions to decline available help)

GMAT Reading Comprehension Strategy:

The GMAT often tests whether you can:
  1. Recognize implied information, not just explicit statements
  2. Understand that having reasons = making a choice = deliberate action
  3. Avoid overly literal interpretations

The word "deliberately" in choice D doesn't mean malicious or strategic (like in paragraph 2). It simply means "by conscious choice" - which is exactly what paragraph 3 describes when entities choose not to update for their own reasons.

Key Takeaway:
In GMAT RC, when the passage gives reasons why someone does or doesn't do something, that action is deliberate - even if the word "deliberate" never appears in the passage.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
17304 posts
189 posts