A. To discuss the various merits and demerits of a particular view on women in general.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. The author is very critical in his/her take on the views expressed by the various authors discussed in the passage. There is no mention of any merits of such views.

B. To evaluate the relevance of a proposed theory in the modern world.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. There is no mention of a single proposed theory. The author does discuss, however, how the views expressed don't reflect the mindset of the women, but there is no way to determine whether these women are set in the modern world.

C. To objectively describe a commonality among the works of certain authors.

Incorrect: Inconsistent. The author has sided with the critics of the views expressed by different authors/in different books mentioned in the passage. Also the word "described" does not encapsulate the discussion the author holds on these views. Hence, we cannot say that the author has objectively described anything.

D. To advocate a line of reasoning that is counter to a proposed old-fashioned idea.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. Even when the author discusses how the ideas expressed in the two books (mentioned in the third paragraph) are baseless, he/she does not propose any line of reasoning that is opposite to any idea mentioned in the passage. All the author does is question the basis of such views.

E. To criticize a line of thought deemed evidence-less.

Correct. This is indeed consistent with the overall tone and nature of comments made by the author in the entire passage. The author criticizes the views expressed by Gilligan and those expressed in a book considered by the author inspired by Gilligan's views.



A. Women have a way of acquiring knowledge that is unique to them.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. Although the authors of Women's Way of knowing hold the view expressed in this choice, the author does not. Since this is an inference question, the correct answer has to be a view expressed by the author. If another party's view is to be expressed, it has to be qualified appropriately. Accordingly, had the answer choice been "Some people think that women have a way of acquiring knowledge that is unique to them", it would have been correct.

B. In order to obtain unbiased responses, the participants of a study should not have prior awareness of the subject of the study.

Correct. The author agrees with the critics of Women's way of Knowing who challenge that the findings are not fully uncontaminated, i.e. they are contaminated to some extent since the interviewees were told the topic of the study in advance. Hence, one can infer that the author would agree with the statement given in this choice.

C. Critical thinking is the most central aspect of the education system.

Incorrect: Inconsistent. The author does mention in the last sentence of the passage that critical thinking is an integral part of the education; however, on the basis of the same, we cannot infer that it is the most integral part.

D. Books such as Nodding's Caring are regressive because they are unoriginal in nature.

Incorrect: Inconsistent. Even though the author does imply that these books are regressive, it is not because these books are copies in general; it's because these books are imitations of ideas that the author considers regressive.

E. It has been easy for women to voice their demands and opinions when they have felt the need to do so.

Incorrect: Out of Context. The topic of women voicing their demands is mentioned in the final paragraph; however, the author does not comment on the feasibility of the same.



A. To raise a consideration that is in the opposite direction to the information given in the preceding paragraph.

Incorrect: Inconsistent. The author does raise a consideration that even though Gilligan's views were regressive, they were quite popular; however, this consideration is not in the opposite direction to the thoughts/discussion in the preceding paragraph.

B. To criticize the regressive thinking expressed by Gilligan and her followers.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. Although the author’s overall purpose in writing the passage is to do so, in the second paragraph, the author doesn’t criticize the views at all. Hence, it is out of scope for the second paragraph.

C. To suggest that regressive ideas about women's individuality become popular despite any merits in them.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. This is a generalized statement that is not supported by the passage. The passage contents are really specific and do not make an effort to discuss any trend in general.

D.To mention the influence a particular author's views had on various other writers while using one book as an example.

Correct. The author mentions how Gilligan's views inspired a spate of authors and uses the example of Women's way of Knowing to illustrate the same. Hence, this indeed is the correct choice.

E. To discuss the writings of various authors inspired by a particular writer's views.

Incorrect: Inconsistent. Even though this part of the answer choice is correct "inspired by a particular writer's view", the author never discusses (instead mentions) the writings of various authors.



A. Many people who criticize Gilligan's concept of difference feminism are more enraged by her take on women's idea of morality than by any idea in Women's Way of Knowing.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. Although the author does mention that what most infuriates the critics of Gilligan is her view that women have their own special version of morality rooted in relationships and caring rather than the supposedly abstract notions of justice and equity, there is no such comparison given for critics' take on the views expressed in the two books.

B. The findings of Women's Way of Knowing were deliberately contaminated by the writers of the book.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. In the final paragraph, the author does agree with the critics that the findings were not contamination-free but nowhere does he/she make the allegation that it was a deliberate effort to do so.

C. The process of evaluating and forming an opinion forms the basis for thinking critically.

Correct. This information is explicitly stated in the final sentence of the passage: ... the whole point of critical thinking...is to know what to accept and what to reject by assessment and judgment.

D. Both In a Different Voice and Women's way of Knowing are based on studies that are somewhat contaminated.

Incorrect: Inconsistent. The author definitely agrees that the findings of Women’s way of Knowing are contaminated but doesn’t hold the same opinion about In a Different Voice. What the author says in the final paragraph is that even if we don’t take the authenticity of the findings in to account, the conclusions drawn by the authors are not justified.

E. The 135 women interviewees who contributed to Women's Way of Knowing were aware of how their opinions could be construed as regressive.

Incorrect: Out of Scope. The only information we get to know about these women is that they knew the topic of the study prior to be interviewed. Nowhere does the author mention that they were aware of how their views were going to be perceived.
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workout For answer of 1st question, while reading the passage i could not get from the tone of the author that he is criticizing a line of thought. In the passage author keeps referring to the critics whenever any discussion comes up of criticizing anything. Can you please quote some lines from the passage which gives an idea that the author himself is criticizing??

@gmatninja@mikemcgarry
For question no.3, i understand that option e goes in the right line of reasoning.
However, can the experts pl explain how option a is not correct answer.
In the first paragraph it has been said that the views have been criticised by many.
And in second para it has been said that their are few people who admire the views. Hence both views look to be going in opposite direction