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555-605 Level|   Business|   Short Passage|                     
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Hi Sajjad1994

Just wanted to check to be consistent, GMATclub shows this question as 25% Medium which should be 555-605 level, how this is classified as a Hard question? Is this a Hard one according to the Official Guide?

Sajjad1994
Official Explanation

1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Main idea

This question depends on an understanding of the passage as a whole. The first paragraph describes the labor theory of value and the theory's historical origins in the philosophy of John Locke. The second paragraph provides some analysis of the theory and uses the analysis to support a critique.

A. The passages describe a historical connection between the labor theory of value and Locke's economic theories and suggest that the influence of Locke on the labor theory of value is one reason why, according to the author, the theory may be inadequate. This perhaps suggests an indirect criticism of Locke and his theories, via his influence on more recent theories. However, Locke's economic theories are not criticized directly and are not the focus of the Passage.

B. Although the passage may suggest that a particular economic theory—the labor theory of value-may exaggerate the "contribution of labor in a modern economy" because the theory may neglect the importance of capital goods, the author does not suggest that the contribution of labor is unimportant.

C. Correct. This is the best answer. The second paragraph—more than half of the passage—is almost entirely focused on critiquing the labor theory of value. The first paragraph, by introducing the theory and providing some historical context, can be seen as supporting the critique, by introducing the theory to readers who may not be fmiliar with it.

D. The passage offers no argument fr or against a more equitable distribution of business profits.

E. Te's point at issue in this option is similar to the point at issue in D, to do with what might be right or wrong, or more equitable, in matters concerning the distribution of money or "compensation." The passage makes no argument as to what might be right or wrong in this respect.

The correct answer is C.
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agrasan
Hi Sajjad1994

Just wanted to check to be consistent, GMATclub shows this question as 25% Medium which should be 555-605 level, how this is classified as a Hard question? Is this a Hard one according to the Official Guide?
Hi agrasan

The post you reffered was written in 2022 while the difficulty level system available with the each question was implemented in the start of 2024 probably. Before this system was implemented, i used to write the difficulty level according to the timer stats + my own guess. Anytime in future you stuck the similar situation please go ahead with the difficulty level which is reflected by the timer above the question. This is more accurate.

Thanks
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Hi experts KarishmaB GMATNinja DmitryFarber

I went through the explanation but I still have a doubt on question-5 option B.


5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(B) The author introduces the premise of a theory, evaluates the premise by relating it to objective reality, then proposes a modification of the theory.


The original labor value theory said 100% should be for labors only whereas the author points out that 1/3rd should be allocated to capital goods due to their contribution in consumer goods, shouldn't we take this point by the author on allocation to capital goods as a modification to Labor Theory?

Please let me know why this won't be a modification.
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I am no expert, just sharing my thoughts

IMO, he didn't suggest any modification. He just mentioned what Locke's theory didn't account for.

A modification would have been it should be say 60% labor, 30% capital goods and 10% to the owners... (just an example)
agrasan
Hi experts KarishmaB GMATNinja DmitryFarber

I went through the explanation but I still have a doubt on question-5 option B.


5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(B) The author introduces the premise of a theory, evaluates the premise by relating it to objective reality, then proposes a modification of the theory.


The original labor value theory said 100% should be for labors only whereas the author points out that 1/3rd should be allocated to capital goods due to their contribution in consumer goods, shouldn't we take this point by the author on allocation to capital goods as a modification to Labor Theory?

Please let me know why this won't be a modification.
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Agreed. Pointing out a flaw in a theory is not the same as proposing a modification, even if it might imply the potential for modification. For instance, if you want to go skydiving and I point out that your parachute is damaged, that's not proposing a modification. I'd need to actually say "You should go skydiving with this other parachute."

In this case, notice that the author never says how we SHOULD allocate value. They say that 1/3 comes from capital goods, but they don't say what changes we should make to the actual theory as a result.
ManifestDreamMBA
I am no expert, just sharing my thoughts

IMO, he didn't suggest any modification. He just mentioned what Locke's theory didn't account for.

A modification would have been it should be say 60% labor, 30% capital goods and 10% to the owners... (just an example)
agrasan
Hi experts KarishmaB GMATNinja DmitryFarber

I went through the explanation but I still have a doubt on question-5 option B.


5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(B) The author introduces the premise of a theory, evaluates the premise by relating it to objective reality, then proposes a modification of the theory.


The original labor value theory said 100% should be for labors only whereas the author points out that 1/3rd should be allocated to capital goods due to their contribution in consumer goods, shouldn't we take this point by the author on allocation to capital goods as a modification to Labor Theory?

Please let me know why this won't be a modification.
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