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15 Sep 2025, 02:28
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I was a little confused by C because the language "raising objection" felt too strong, and instead the sentence seemed more like it was "casting a doubt"... how can I avoid getting caught up in such answers?
GMATNinja
16 Sep 2025, 06:08
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soniasw16
soniasw16
I completely understand your confusion about the language strength! This is actually a very common trap in RC function questions, and you're showing good instincts by being sensitive to word choice.
Key Insight: "Raising an objection" vs. "Casting doubt"
In GMAT RC, "raising an objection" doesn't necessarily mean strong, aggressive opposition. It simply means presenting a counterpoint or challenge to a previously stated position. Let me show you why (C) is correct and how to avoid this trap:
Step 1: Identify What's Being Objected To
Look at where each answer choice points:
- Choice (B): "assertion made in the previous sentence" → This refers to the sentence about distinguishing types of declines
- Choice (C): "view presented in the first paragraph" → This refers to the environmentalists' "amphibian crisis" claims
Step 2: Trace the Logical Relationship
The sentence states: "Anecdotal reports of population decreases cannot distinguish among these possibilities"
This sentence is NOT questioning the previous sentence's classification system. Instead, it's saying that anecdotal reports (which likely support the "crisis" claims in paragraph 1) are unreliable evidence. This objects to the first paragraph's crisis narrative by undermining its evidentiary basis.
The Critical Distinction:
- "Casting doubt" (Choice B) would mean the sentence questions whether the classifications themselves are valid
- "Raising an objection" (Choice C) means the sentence challenges the crisis claims by showing evidence problems
Strategy to Avoid This Trap:
- Focus on structural relationships, not tone intensity: Don't get caught up in whether language feels "strong" or "mild"
- Trace references precisely: When you see "previous sentence" vs. "first paragraph," map exactly what each refers to
- Ask "What is being challenged?": The target of the challenge determines the answer, not the strength of the challenge
Quick Test for Function Questions: Instead of evaluating tone strength, ask yourself:
- What claim/idea does this sentence address? (Here: the crisis claims from paragraph 1)
- How does it address that claim? (Here: by showing the evidence is unreliable)
- Where in the passage is that claim located? (Here: first paragraph, not previous sentence)
Remember: GMAT uses "objection" to mean any form of challenge or counterargument, regardless of intensity. Don't let the perceived strength of words distract you from the logical structure of the argument!
23 Sep 2025, 14:02
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Question 6
soniasw16
You can raise a minor objection to something or raise a major objection to something. Likewise, you can cast a little bit of doubt on something or cast a whole lot of doubt on something.
In other words, the strength of either phrase isn't fixed, so it's impossible to say whether one is stronger than the other without additional context.
You could also argue that the author isn't necessarily trying to cast doubt on the environmentalists. In fact, the final sentence of the passage suggests that the author might AGREE that immediate environmental action is necessary. It's possible to raise an objection to something without casting doubt on it. For example, you might object to a specific part of an argument even though you agree with the overall conclusion of the argument.
Luckily, we don't need to worry too much about the relative strength of "cast doubt" vs "raise objection" or about the subtle difference in meaning between the two. In deciding between (B) and (C), it's more important to consider WHAT is being objected to and WHAT the doubt is cast on. Choice (B) does not cast doubt on (or raise an objection to) the previous sentence, so it must be eliminated regardless.
For more on that, check out this post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/there-are-re ... l#p2490745.
