HOT Competition 31 Aug/8AM: To the defenders of tenure in teaching, it

Question

To the defenders of tenure in teaching, its predominant function is to safeguard public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability.  Stability of employment expectations tends to enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession and may induce highly qualified persons to pursue a teaching career  instead of more lucrative pursuits and is therefore, perhaps the biggest advantage of tenured professorship. However, since termination of tenured professors is literally impossible,  tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers . Some fear that once a professor gains tenure he or she will go into neutral mode and stop producing. The inept are in fact, protected by tenure.

Which of the following best identifies the roles played by the boldfaced portions in the passage?

A. The first describes evidence presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; the second states the position that the argument seeks to establish.

B. The first presents a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second questions that support.

C. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.

D. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

E. The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

GMATWhiz Explanation

Step 1 – Analysing the stimulus and question stem

1. To the defenders of tenure in teaching, its predominant function is to safeguard public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability.
 a. This sentence sets the context. The author states the opinion of people who support tenure in teaching.
 i. The supporters believe that the main function of tenures is to protect the public good. This is done by protecting academic freedom and by ensuring that academics (teachers) are answerable for their actions.

2.  Stability of employment expectations tends to enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession and may induce highly qualified persons to pursue a teaching career  instead of more lucrative pursuits and is therefore, perhaps the biggest advantage of tenured professorship. 
 a. In this sentence, the author talks about the biggest advantage of tenured professorship:
 i. It provides stability of work
ii. Making teaching an attractive profession
iii. It might attract highly educated people to pursue teaching instead of pursuing something more profitable.

3. However, since termination of tenured professors is literally impossible,  tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers. 
 a. The “however” indicates, we are going to face a contrast to the advantage of tenures.
 i. Fact: Tenured professors cannot be fired.
ii. Disadvantage: Poor teachers might be getting the job security.  
 1. This sentence goes against the previous two sentences.

4. Some fear that once a professor gains tenure he or she will go into neutral mode and stop producing. 
 a. This sentence presents opinion of some people:
 i. They fear that a tenure may turn a professor unproductive
ii. This is in fact another disadvantage of tenures.
iii. This supports the previous sentence.

5. The inept are in fact, protected by tenure. 
 a. This sentence emphasises the idea that tenures protect the incapable professors.
 i. This too supports the third statement.

Conclusion:  Tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers.

This is the main idea that the author wants to convey.

Step 2 – Pre-thinking

1.  Role played by each boldface 
 a. The first provides supports for a third-party opinion.
b. The second conveys the main conclusion.

2.  Relationship between the two 
 a. The two boldfaces are going in the opposite direction. 
b. One is an advantage, the other a disadvantage.

3.  Relationship vis-a-vis the conclusion 
 a. The first boldface provides information that goes against the main conclusion.
b. The second boldface is the main conclusion.

Step 3 – Answer Choice Elimination

Option A Analysis 
The first describes evidence presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; the second states the position that the argument seeks to establish.
 1. The first describes evidence 
 a. Since this sentence supporst the opinion of the defenders of tenure, it can be called an evidence. (correct)  
 2. presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; 
 a. It goes against the main conclusion. (incorrect)  
 3. the second states the position 
 a. It can be called a “position” since it is a conclusion (correct)  
 4. that the argument seeks to establish
 a. It is the main conclusion and hence the position that the argument wants to establish. (correct)  
Incorrect Choice.

Option B Analysis 
The first presents a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second questions that support.
 A. The first presents a premise 
 a. It is a premise provided in favour of tenures. (Correct)  
 B. that supports the main conclusion of the argument;
 a. It goes against the main conclusion. (incorrect)  
 C. the second questions that support.
 a. The second is the main conclusion which goes against the premise in the first boldface. (Correct)  
Incorrect Choice.

Option C Analysis 
The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.
 1. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; 
 a. This goes agaist the main conclusion. (Incorrect)  
 2. the second states the position
 a. It is the main conclusion, hence a position. (Correct)  
 3. that the argument as a whole opposes.
 a. The argument does not oppose this position as it is the conclusion of the argument.(Incorrect)  
Incorrect Choice.

Option D Analysis 
The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
 1. The first is evidence 
 a. Since this sentence supporst the opinion of the defenders of tenure, it can be called an evidence. (correct)  
 2. that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; 
 a. It supports the defenders of the tenure while the argument is against it. (Correct)  
 3. the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
 a. (Correct)  
 Correct Choice.

Option E Analysis 
The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
 1. The first is a claim 
 a. It is an opinion and called be called a claim. (correct)  
 2. that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; 
 a. It is supporting the defenders of tenures and the argumnet opposes them. (Correct)  
 3. the second is a claim 
 a. It is a conclusion and can be called a claim(Correct)  
 4. advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
 a. It itself is the main conclusion. (incorrect)  
Incorrect Choice.

kntombat · Answer

I think the answer should be A, as the first bold face statement, is introducing a point as to why qualified individuals prefer to take up teaching positions instead of other lucrative opportunities and the second bold face statement gives us the main disadvantage of tenures in teaching.

debjit1990 · Answer

A. The first describes evidence presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; the second states the position that the argument seeks to establish.wrong.First part opposes the conclusion.

B. The first presents a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second questions that support.wrong.First part opposes the conclusion

C. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.Wrong. first is not the conclusion.

D. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.Correct.

E. The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.Second is itself the main conclusion.wrong.

JonShukhrat · Answer

In “boldface” type questions, I usually try to find out the roles before proceeding to answer choices. The author first introduces the stance of tenure’s supporters. Next, he gives a reason why tenure may be beneficial.

Reason:  the stability tenure provides can be instrumental in alluring some adepts of his profession. This reason is stated as evidence or as inherent permanent feature of tenure. Overall, with tenure higher education institutions can have really good professors.

Counter argument:  termination of tenure is almost impossible. Hence professors may become less interested in developing further.

The conclusion of the counter argument:  tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers. That’s hardly possible that poor teachers are offered tenure, but once good once obtain it, they may become less fruitful.

Distractions:  Some fear that once professor gains tenure he or she will go into neutral mode and stop producing. The inept are in fact, protected by tenure. (these are not the author’s conclusions. They are just side opinions)

With this in mind let’s analyze the answer choices:

A.  The first describes evidence presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; the second states the position that the argument seeks to establish.

Everything is right until “does not oppose”. Actually, the argument opposes tenure by shading some light on its possible drawback; the second part seems ok. Incorrect.

B.  The first presents a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second questions that support.

The second boldface DOESN’T say that tenure is not alluring to professionals. It is. The second is the author’s conclusion as we already decided above. Incorrect.

C.  The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.

As we have already clarified the first justifies tenure by drawing attention to its positive effect, and the second boldface is the main conclusion of the sentence. Incorrect.

D.  The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

Bingo, as we stated prior to moving answer choices, the first is the basic info or evidence offered in support of tenure, while the second is the main conclusion of the argument. We can notice that only the second is an opinion stated by the author. If it’s indeed the only opinion of the argument, then it must conclusion, because the conclusion is the inference that the author himself/herself makes.

E.  The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

The first part of this choice is actually ok. It’s akin to D’s first part. The second boldface is the main conclusion and we already decided so above. Incorrect.

Hence   D

Posted from my mobile device

K-ja · Answer

I selected option A. I do not understand as to how the BF1 is opposing the conclusion. I believe it is a position by itself and the BF2 is another position. There is no way of telling that the conclusion is in a direction opposite to BF1. The teachers attracted are highly educated but they may not be good teachers.

VerbalBot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

HOT Competition 31 Aug/8AM: To the defenders of tenure in teaching, it

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

HOT Competition 31 Aug/8AM: To the defenders of tenure in teaching, it

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards