The public generally expects reputable, business-related newspapers

Question

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Passage # 77, Date: 09-May-2020
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The public generally expects reputable, business-related newspapers and magazines to be valuable, objective and well-researched sources of information. My research suggests, however, that most publications that address current financial-related topics distort the facts. In some newspapers, for example, journalists report verbatim what they learned in an interview or read in another publication, only to write a different article days later, completely refuting what they originally wrote. In essence, the value of reporting by many journalists, even in what some consider the most reputable publications worldwide, is exceptionally limited by their interests in exerting the necessary effort to conduct independent due diligence on the topics upon which they report. Further, many financial reporters have little to no formal business education or practical experience, and thus lack ability to conduct meaningful research. Although the public continually holds these publications in high regard and depends upon their published information to make informed and current decisions, I contend such journalism alone is of little true value for significant financial-related decisions and, in many cases, a meaningful detriment to investors' decisions.

One argument against my contentions asserts that, by nature, business-related newspapers and magazines must report on a large breadth of information with limited resources and, therefore, only publish information that is cursory in nature, dependent largely upon unverified information gleaned through interviews, and without the foundation of significant independent research. Some even claim that the public generally recognizes this and reads all publications with a firm understanding of these limitations. Yet, substantial evidence exists to the contrary and recent events have proven the public's dependence on information generally learned through business-related publications. For example, even after a start of a recent extreme decline in the global financial markets, many financial reporters who lacked a fundamental understanding of the market dynamics continued to publish stories based on the false assumption that markets would continue to experience positive growth indefinitely. Many in the general public depended upon both the specific content and the mood of such stories in making important investment decisions, only to learn the truth from the very same reporters in stories written a short time later, after they had already lost significant value in their investments. Given this, an ongoing, careful review and publication of the credentials, knowledge base and practical experience of reporters of reputable business newspapers and magazines are certainly warranted.   1 
OA:  B 
1. In the second paragraph, the author mentions an example concerning a recent decline in the global financial markets most likely in order to

A. suggest that the decisions of the general public often are based solely upon the reporting in business-related publications.
B. counter the claim that the general public recognizes the limitations of reporting in business-related publications and takes such limitations into account when reading such reports.
C. suggest that the general public tends to interpret the contents of business-related publications more literally than do professional investors.
D. demonstrate that business-related publications carry political messages meant to influence their readers.
E. prove that business-related publications are not limited with regard to their objectiveness and accuracy.

2 
OA:  A 
2. Which of the following would most logically be the topic of the paragraph immediately following the passage?

A. Specific ways to evaluate the abilities of business reporters
B. The centrality of the business reporter's role in society
 C. Alternative sources of information to financial-related newspapers and magazines
 D. Other non-financial-related subjects on which business newspapers and magazines report
 E. Ways in which business publications influence the political attitudes of the general public

3 
OA:  D 
3. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. describe in detail one example regarding the impact of financial reporting in business-related newspapers on the investment decisions of the general public.
 B. describe changes that should be made to the way in which journalists conduct their reporting.
 C. discuss the difficulty business-related newspapers and magazines have in accurately reporting financial-related topics.
 D. argue that business-related publications do not publish valuable and well-researched information.
 E. summarize ways in which some business-related publications give distorted pictures of financial topics.

dabaobao · Answer

Got 3/3 correct in 7.5 min including 4:30 min to read the passage!

Passage Map: 
1) Author's point
2) Counter to author's point. Example to support author's point

iamdivs · Answer

3/3 correct, 4:06 minutes (including the time taken to read the passage)

chibacca · Answer

3/3 correct in 5:50 minutes (including time to read & take notes on the passage)

unraveled · Answer

Official Solution:

1. The correct answer to this question is (B). This is a Specific question about the details of the passage, requiring the test taker to locate the pertinent portion of the passage where details related to the question are provided. The second paragraph of the passage anticipates the argument that the public generally recognizes and reads all publications with a firm understanding of these limitations. The author rebuts this argument, beginning with the sentence. Yet, substantial evidence exists to the contrary and recent events have proven the dependence of the public on information. Answer choice A is incorrect as it indicates that decisions are based solely on reporting in business-related publications. The passage only indicates financial decisions, not decisions in general, are based upon, but not solely based upon, such reporting. Further, this is not the central reason why the author mentions the example in question. Answer choice B correctly notes that the example is mentioned to counter the claim previously mentioned in the second paragraph. Choice C is incorrect as it describes a position that the author refutes with the example in question. Answer choice D is incorrect as it mentions political messages, which is out of Scope in regard to the passage and example in question. Choice E is incorrect as it provides a stance against the contentions of the author; the author uses the example in question in order to support his contentions.

2. The correct answer to this question is (A). This is a Next Step question about the subject matter of the paragraph that logically would follow the passage. The test taker should rely upon the structural clues provided in the passage to answer such questions. Further, the correct answer must be consistent with the Scope, Tone and Purpose of the passage. Answer choice A is correct. The last sentence of the passage states, an ongoing, careful review and publication of the credentials, knowledge base and practical experience of reporters are certainly warranted. Therefore, ways to evaluate reporters' capabilities is a sound continuation of the passage, making (A) the correct answer choice. Further, this answer choice is the only choice consistent with the strong, contentious tone of the passage. Choices B, C, D, and E all have scopes that are inconsistent with the passage.

3. The correct answer to this question is (D). This is a Universal question about the primary purpose of the passage, requiring the test taker to successfully identify STOP in order to efficiently and accurately locate the correct answer. The Scope and Tone of the passage should guide the test taker in selecting the correct answer regarding the passage's primary purpose. Answer choice A is incorrect as its Scope is too narrow and inconsistent with the passage. Choice B is incorrect as the passage does not describe changes that should be made. The passage only notes or argues that a review and publication of credentials are warranted. Choice C is incorrect as its Scope is also too broad and inconsistent with the passage. Answer choice D is the only answer choice consistent with the disapproving tone of the passage. The verb argue correctly reflects the author's position: contend such journalism alone is of little true value for significant financial-related decisions and, in many cases, a meaningful detriment to investors' decisions. Choice E is incorrect as Scope is too narrow and inconsistent with the passage.

The public generally expects reputable, business-related newspapers

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The public generally expects reputable, business-related newspapers

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