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Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
Question Stats:
67% (01:51) correct
33%
(02:08)
wrong
based on 1501
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
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The fight against the drug trade in Country X should focus for the time being on tightening the country’s borders and targeting its major smugglers. Wiping out poppy fields in rural areas means even greater hardship for an economically depressed farming population. Rather, the United Nations and the government of Country X must carefully rebuild agricultural infrastructure in areas where the economy depends on these poppy fields.
What purpose do the two boldface sentences serve in the passage?
A. The first is the conclusion drawn by the speaker; the second is the alternative to that conclusion.
B. The first is a short-term solution to a problem; the second is a long-term solution to the same problem.
C. The first presents a problem; the second poses an ideal solution to the problem.
D. The first presents a popular solution to a problem; the second presents a solution preferred by the author.
E. The first presents an argument; the second presents evidence to support the argument.
_________________
What purpose do the two boldface sentences serve in the passage?
A. The first is the conclusion drawn by the speaker; the second is the alternative to that conclusion.
B. The first is a short-term solution to a problem; the second is a long-term solution to the same problem.
C. The first presents a problem; the second poses an ideal solution to the problem.
D. The first presents a popular solution to a problem; the second presents a solution preferred by the author.
E. The first presents an argument; the second presents evidence to support the argument.
_________________
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Bunuel
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
The first boldface sentence states that the fight against the drug trade in Country X should focus for the time being on tightening the country’s borders and targeting its major smugglers. The second boldface sentence states that the United Nations and the government of Country X should eventually replace the poppy fields with other farming ventures ("agricultural infrastructure"). We need to find a choice that describes the relationship between these two sentences.
(A) This choice states that the first sentence is the conclusion and that the second sentence is an alternative to that conclusion. This misrepresents the relationship. The first sentence is a shorter-term conclusion and the second sentence is a longer-term conclusion of the argument.
(B) CORRECT. This choice states that the first sentence is a short-term solution to a problem and the second a long-term solution to the same problem. This accurately describes the relationship. The first sentence states that the fight should focus "for the time being" on borders and smuggling while the second sentence states that the United Nations and the government of Country X should work to replace the poppy crop with something else.
(C) This choice states that the first sentence presents a problem. According to the text, however, the first sentence is not a problem but a solution to a problem.
(D) This choice states that the first sentence presents a popular solution to a problem. Since we have no way of knowing whether the solution is popular, this cannot be correct.
(E) This choice states that the first sentence presents an argument and that the second sentence provides evidence to support that argument. Though the first sentence does present an argument, the second sentence, rather than providing evidence, presents a second argument.
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General Discussion
Hatakekakashi
Joined: 07 Jan 2016
Last visit: 27 Aug 2026
Posts: 1,228
Location: United States (MO)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Products:
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Posts: 1,228
Bunuel
a,c,e seem wrong
between B or D, I pick B because we don't know if the solution is popular and if the second is prefered by author
and it says in (B) the fight should focus for the time being - short time
(B)
Eliminate A because both first and second BF are part of the solution.
Eliminate C because the first BF is part of the solution.
Eliminate D because the BFs are part of the same solution. The author prefers both.
Eliminate E because the first BF is not an argument and second is not an evidence to support it.
B remains and is the correct answer.
Eliminate C because the first BF is part of the solution.
Eliminate D because the BFs are part of the same solution. The author prefers both.
Eliminate E because the first BF is not an argument and second is not an evidence to support it.
B remains and is the correct answer.
Posts: 1,324
Hmmm,
Is the second bolded part really a long term solution to the SAME problem?
If we define the problem as “attempting to not cause hardship on the agricultural economy while fighting the war on drugs” the fist bolded part offers a part time solution to this problem: tighten the border/target smugglers instead of wiping out poppy fields.
The second bolded part seems to be more focused on a solution to helping the agricultural economy rather than fighting the war on drugs.
I suppose it depends on how you define the “problem” given the scenario.
In any case, process of elimination gets you to the correct answer of B.
Posted from my mobile device
Is the second bolded part really a long term solution to the SAME problem?
If we define the problem as “attempting to not cause hardship on the agricultural economy while fighting the war on drugs” the fist bolded part offers a part time solution to this problem: tighten the border/target smugglers instead of wiping out poppy fields.
The second bolded part seems to be more focused on a solution to helping the agricultural economy rather than fighting the war on drugs.
I suppose it depends on how you define the “problem” given the scenario.
In any case, process of elimination gets you to the correct answer of B.
Posted from my mobile device
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 11
GMATNinja Can you please explain this question? Option B suggests that both the boldface statements point to the same underlying problem. However, I don't see it; both the statements seem to be written exclusively.
Thanking you in advance.
Thanking you in advance.
Fdambro294
The way I understood, implementing the first BF would result in collateral damage. What if the major buyers of poppy flowers from the farmers are these smugglers, so once these smugglers are out of the picture those farmers are screwed. Hence, the second BF.
Also, once there is an agri infra through which farmers can sell their products to legit buyers, smugglers will have a hard time getting their hand on the produce.
Posts: 1,324
I see what you mean.
Thanks.
Thanks.
AkashM
mk96
Joined: 14 Mar 2018
Last visit: 18 Sep 2022
Posts: 73
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Finance
Schools: IIMA PGPX'22
GPA: 4
WE:Corporate Finance (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: IIMA PGPX'22
Posts: 73
GMATNinja Bunuel manhattan - can you please explain this probelm. Are there two conclusions in the argument? Which one is the main conclusion of the argument?
Can someone please explain
I DONT KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO GMATNinja, no response to any tags? Are you keeping well and safe?
Need help experts.
Can someone please explain
I DONT KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO GMATNinja, no response to any tags? Are you keeping well and safe?
Need help experts.
mk96
Joined: 14 Mar 2018
Last visit: 18 Sep 2022
Posts: 73
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Finance
Schools: IIMA PGPX'22
GPA: 4
WE:Corporate Finance (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: IIMA PGPX'22
Posts: 73
Hatakekakashi
How can we say that A is outright wrong? Bold face 2 is definitely an alternative solution. What other errors do you think are there which are material enough to reject it? Out of B and A, B is more fitter is all I would say. Please share your thoughts.
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