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Hey SajjadAhmad, GMATNinja

Can some one explain the reasoning to Choice E in Q2.

Thanks in advance

Hi Harsh9676,

The last lines of the passage: "Ultimately, there can be no morality in politics—and no possibility of it—if those who hold the highest positions have no sense of amicitial and of its meaning in the process of politics.". imply that no morality can exist if the people who hold the highest positions have no sense of the responsibility of friendship or relationship (mentioned in the passage as; "amicitial, the responsible friendship"), thus making option E, the correct Answer.

Another way to approach the question, much easier one also in this case is elimination method. No other option apart from E, has been discussed w.r.t to morality in the passage. Whole of the passage mostly focuses on the relationships between politicians.

Hope this Helps.
Thanks.
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Hi, Please give explanation to question 1(with reasons to eliminate the incorrect options).

Thanks:)
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Hi, Please give explanation to question 1(with reasons to eliminate the incorrect options).

Thanks:)

Hi Vanshika04,


1) It can be inferred that a political favor “in the truest sense” (highlighted text) is one that

A) involves both private and public commercial interests
B) demands benefits for a particular constituency as well as for the politician who represents it
C) provides reciprocal payments in both financial and political support
D) involves only candidates for high federal positions
E) represents an exchange of confidence and mutual support in carrying out particular policies


Explanation: "Favors are still involved in amicitial, but they are political in the truest sense." These lines imply that amicitial, the responsible friendship is the friendship in the truest political sense. The friendship not only involves political or immediate benefits, but the opportunity that it provides the pursuit of political objectives after the election, implying that it represent confidence and mutual support in carrying out policies.
Option A is incorrect, because it not related to what's asked in the passage w.r.t the amicitial friendship in concern.
Option B is incorrect, as the friendship doesn't demand it, instead the benefits are the result of this friendship.
Option C is incorrect, the friendship doesn't actually provide reciprocal payments, it simply represents the strictest political meaning, where no more than what is given as a favor is returned ,
Option D is incorrect, as its irrelevant w.r.t to what's asked.


Hope This Helps.
Thanks.
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For Q#1,

1) It can be inferred that a political favor “in the truest sense” (highlighted text) is one that

A) involves both private and public commercial interests
B) demands benefits for a particular constituency as well as for the politician who represents it
C) provides reciprocal payments in both financial and political support
D) involves only candidates for high federal positions
E) represents an exchange of confidence and mutual support in carrying out particular policies

Quote:
Favors are still involved in amicitial, but they are political in the truest sense. A candidate for the presidency who forms an amicitial with a governor or a mayor enters an alliance in the strictest political meaning: a president does not buy a mayor, any more than a mayor buys a president, with cash payments.

Experts, can you please help me understand why option C is incorrect here?
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sssanskaar
For Q#1,

1) It can be inferred that a political favor “in the truest sense” (highlighted text) is one that

A) involves both private and public commercial interests
B) demands benefits for a particular constituency as well as for the politician who represents it
C) provides reciprocal payments in both financial and political support
D) involves only candidates for high federal positions
E) represents an exchange of confidence and mutual support in carrying out particular policies

Quote:
Favors are still involved in amicitial, but they are political in the truest sense. A candidate for the presidency who forms an amicitial with a governor or a mayor enters an alliance in the strictest political meaning: a president does not buy a mayor, any more than a mayor buys a president, with cash payments.

Experts, can you please help me understand why option C is incorrect here?


Hi sssanskaar,

In Question 1, we are looking for an option that reflects the meaning of political favor “in the truest sense”. For this we also need to consider the lines: "The political price that is paid is seen in terms not only of the immediate benefits that it will bring, such as the winning of an election, but of the opportunity that it provides to continue, after the election, the pursuit of political objectives that are beyond mere ambition."

If you consider the lines: "A candidate for the presidency who forms an amicitial with a governor or a mayor enters an alliance in the strictest political meaning: a president does not buy a mayor, any more than a mayor buys a president, with cash payments.", you will notice that option C can only be partly inferred, implying that its incorrect. Exact favor is returned in terms of cash payments, but these political favors are not just about the money. Thus E is a better answer.


Hope This Helps.
Thanks.
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Hey AjiteshArun Sajjad1994 GMATNinja was a little stuck with Q2. Here is my understanding of the question. The question speaks about the context of morality:
I inferred that the context is provided by the "client patron relationship" as is clear from the below mentioned lines:
"One may wish that the client-patron relationship did not operate in Congress, but the existence of the relationship must be acknowledged if one is to understand the basic issues of morality in politics"

So I think that a reference to the business community is more appropriate i.e Choice D. Not able to make sens of OA E. Can you please help me establish the link?

Would be a big help. Feeling lost. Thanks:)
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Sidharth003
Hey AjiteshArun Sajjad1994 GMATNinja was a little stuck with Q2. Here is my understanding of the question. The question speaks about the context of morality:
I inferred that the context is provided by the "client patron relationship" as is clear from the below mentioned lines:
"One may wish that the client-patron relationship did not operate in Congress, but the existence of the relationship must be acknowledged if one is to understand the basic issues of morality in politics"

So I think that a reference to the business community is more appropriate i.e Choice D. Not able to make sens of OA E. Can you please help me establish the link?

Would be a big help. Feeling lost. Thanks:)
Let's look at some key points from the passage:

  • The author states that client-patron relationships "must be acknowledged if one is to understand the basic issues of morality in politics."
  • They describe the client-patron relationship as one where politicians perform favors for other politicians in exchange for reciprocal favors.
  • They conclude that without amicitial, "there can be no morality in politics."
  • They define amicitial as "the responsible friendship that was a sacred agreement for the Roman politician..."

Note that the author discusses morality in the context of the RELATIONSHIPS between politicians. While client-patron relationships are common in the US congress, the author tells us that these relationships must be "responsible friendships" (i.e. they must follow the principle of amicitial) if they are to be moral. So, since the discussion of morality is directly connected to ideas of responsibility and relationships, (E) is the best option.

The main problem with answer choice (D) is that it talks about the workings of the "business community," but the passage is concerned primarily with relationships among politicians (i.e. senators and representatives in the US Congress).

I hope that helps!
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This an Official Passage in GMAT Official Pratice set 2
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Hi Experts,

Please advise how can option E be inferred from the passage in QS1

Thanks
Kitty
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Hi Experts,

Please advise how can option E be inferred from the passage in QS1

Thanks
Kitty

The passage discusses the nature of relationships in United States politics, specifically focusing on the dynamic between politicians and the concept of "client and patron." It also introduces the idea of "amicitial," which is described as a responsible friendship and a sacred agreement among politicians. The passage then contrasts these two types of relationships – client-patron and amicitial – and emphasizes the importance of the latter for a more ethical and effective political system.

In the context of this passage, a political favor "in the truest sense" refers to a type of exchange that aligns with the principles of amicitial, the responsible friendship among politicians.

A political favor "in the truest sense" refers to an exchange of confidence, mutual support, and responsible friendship among politicians. It contrasts with the transactional nature of the client-patron relationship and aligns with the concept of amicitial – an alliance based on shared political objectives and ethical collaboration.

Answer: E
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1. Doesn’t C also include E

C) provides reciprocal payments in both financial and political support.
E) represents an exchange of confidence and mutual support in carrying out particular policies

Doesn’t reciprocal payment in political support include mutual support in policies? I felt C is E plus financial. Which was mentioned immediately after the sentence.
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Question 1


Adarsh_24
1. Doesn’t C also include E

C) provides reciprocal payments in both financial and political support.

E) represents an exchange of confidence and mutual support in carrying out particular policies

Doesn’t reciprocal payment in political support include mutual support in policies? I felt C is E plus financial. Which was mentioned immediately after the sentence.
The author specifically EXCLUDES financial support by saying that a political alliance does NOT involve cash payouts:

Quote:
A candidate for the presidency who forms an amicitial with a governor or a mayor enters an alliance in the strictest political meaning: a president does not buy a mayor, any more than a mayor buys a president, with cash payments.
That's a good enough reason to eliminate (C). But even "reciprocal payments in political support" isn't quite right because that implies the kind of self-serving favors that go against the principle of amicitial.

Here's how the author describes favors involved in amicitial:

Quote:
The political price that is paid is seen in terms {...} of the opportunity that it provides to continue, after the election, the pursuit of political objectives that are beyond mere ambition.
If two politicians form an amicitial with one another, then they are agreeing to support each other in pursuit of political objections. Political objections are achieved through political policies, so (E) is a nice fit.
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