Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 23:16 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 23:16
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2 
705-805 (Hard)|   Inference|      
User avatar
hadimadi
User avatar
Joined: 26 Oct 2021
Last visit: 03 Dec 2022
Posts: 113
Own Kudos:
31
Given Kudos: 94
Posts: 113
Kudos: 31
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 15 Aug 2022, 05:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
chetan2u

Hi,

I actually don’t agree with the OA:

Two people can have radically different systems of belief and interpreted something in the same way:

A highly conservative monk from the 15th century and a leftist from today’s world COULD both agree that drinking alcohol is fine as long as one doesn’t drink too much.
So imagine having a poem about the subject that drinking too much alcohol is fine. Both would interpret the pure semantics of the texts as not true, and both could agree that for example, the author meant it in an ironic way, and not seriously.

So I don’t see how (B) holds…

Please explain
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,173
Own Kudos:
11,466
Given Kudos: 1,862
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,173
Kudos: 11,466
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 25 Mar 2023, 07:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi GMATNinja KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep

Request you to please share your thoughts on Option A.

I interpreted that
> Different cultures have different systems of belief
> System of belief of the reader influences the meaning of the poem.

I couldn't fully understand how Option A could be true (inferred from the passage), as the option now brings in a piece of new information, at least that's what I think so, that the meaning of the poem is influenced by someone else's interpretation(i.e. the interpretation of a third person).

Not sure if I interpreted this part of the passage correctly, but I thought that "... reader's system of beliefs and the poem ..." refers to the system of beliefs that the reader holds i.e. his own system of belief. I am unable to wrap my head around how someone else's interpretation influences the reader's system of belief (even if that person is from the same culture).

Thanks in advance for your reply.
User avatar
saby1410
User avatar
Joined: 06 Feb 2017
Last visit: 10 Jun 2025
Posts: 167
Own Kudos:
23
Given Kudos: 93
Location: India
Posts: 167
Kudos: 23
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 13 Aug 2023, 00:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATGuruNY

How to approach could be true type questions. In this question though i was able to reach at correct answer but wasn't confident for option A and E.
User avatar
gokul5544
User avatar
Joined: 20 Jun 2022
Last visit: 30 Oct 2024
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
22
 [1]
Given Kudos: 279
Location: India
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V45 (Online)
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V45 (Online)
Posts: 15
Kudos: 22
 [1]
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 13 Aug 2023, 05:24
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gmatophobia
Hi GMATNinja KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep

Request you to please share your thoughts on Option A.

I interpreted that
> Different cultures have different systems of belief
> System of belief of the reader influences the meaning of the poem.

I couldn't fully understand how Option A could be true (inferred from the passage), as the option now brings in a piece of new information, at least that's what I think so, that the meaning of the poem is influenced by someone else's interpretation(i.e. the interpretation of a third person).

Not sure if I interpreted this part of the passage correctly, but I thought that "... reader's system of beliefs and the poem ..." refers to the system of beliefs that the reader holds i.e. his own system of belief. I am unable to wrap my head around how someone else's interpretation influences the reader's system of belief (even if that person is from the same culture).

Thanks in advance for your reply.
Show more

Hi gmatophobia, in these types of could be true questions. Your not trying to prove the statements that could be true but your trying to find that ONE statement that definitely breaks the logics of the argument. We only know the line of reasoning this argument is putting forth to us. It could very well be there are things that influence a persons understanding of a poem that are not covered in this specific argument. For example I could make the argument that a persons favorite color could influence their understanding of a poem. If this came as a choice you would have no way to know if it is true or not true. Hence this COULD be true. But if I say someone from 500BC and 2023 will feel the same way about a poem it directly breaks the logic that is mentioned in the line and, (of course, any two readers from different cultures or eras have radically different systems of beliefs.) And since Beliefs influence the understanding two people from different eras cant have the same understanding.

Hope this helped! :)
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
User avatar
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 02 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,347
Own Kudos:
3,905
 [2]
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,347
Kudos: 3,905
 [2]
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 15 Aug 2023, 15:37
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
saby1410
GMATGuruNY

How to approach could be true type questions. In this question though i was able to reach at correct answer but wasn't confident for option A and E.
Show more

could be true EXCEPT = CANNOT be true
The correct answer will directly contradict the passage and thus will constitute a statement that cannot be true.

According to the passage:
Readers from different eras have radically different systems of beliefs, and a reader's system of beliefs yields a meaning that is a unique result.
In other words:
If two people from different eras read the same poem, their different systems of beliefs will lead them to interpret the poem's meaning in different ways.

B. A modern reader and a nineteenth-century reader interpret one of Shakespeare's sonnets in the same way.
Since this option states that two people from different eras can interpret a poem in the same way, it directly contradicts the passage and thus cannot be true.

Show Spoiler
B

A. A reader's interpretation of a poem by Dickinson is affected by someone else's interpretation of it.
Since the passage says nothing about one reader affecting another, this option does not directly contradict the passage.
Eliminate A.

E: A reader's enjoyment of a poem is enhanced by knowing the poet's interpretation of it.
Since the passage says nothing about enjoyment, this option does not directly contradict the passage.
Eliminate E.
User avatar
saby1410
User avatar
Joined: 06 Feb 2017
Last visit: 10 Jun 2025
Posts: 167
Own Kudos:
23
Given Kudos: 93
Location: India
Posts: 167
Kudos: 23
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 16 Aug 2023, 00:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATGuruNY
saby1410
GMATGuruNY

How to approach could be true type questions. In this question though i was able to reach at correct answer but wasn't confident for option A and E.

could be true EXCEPT = CANNOT be true
The correct answer will directly contradict the passage and thus will constitute a statement that cannot be true.

According to the passage:
Readers from different eras have radically different systems of beliefs, and a reader's system of beliefs yields a meaning that is a unique result.
In other words:
If two people from different eras read the same poem, their different systems of beliefs will lead them to interpret the poem's meaning in different ways.

B. A modern reader and a nineteenth-century reader interpret one of Shakespeare's sonnets in the same way.
Since this option states that two people from different eras can interpret a poem in the same way, it directly contradicts the passage and thus cannot be true.

Show Spoiler
B

A. A reader's interpretation of a poem by Dickinson is affected by someone else's interpretation of it.
Since the passage says nothing about one reader affecting another, this option does not directly contradict the passage.
Eliminate A.

E: A reader's enjoyment of a poem is enhanced by knowing the poet's interpretation of it.
Since the passage says nothing about enjoyment, this option does not directly contradict the passage.
Eliminate E.
Show more

GMATGuruNY

thanks for your explaination.
one more doubt so in case of just could be true (without except)or most likely
all 4 choices will contradict,left out will could be true?
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
User avatar
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 02 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,347
Own Kudos:
3,905
 [1]
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,347
Kudos: 3,905
 [1]
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 16 Aug 2023, 03:12
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
saby1410
thanks for your explaination.
one more doubt so in case of just could be true (without except)or most likely
all 4 choices will contradict,left out will could be true?
Show more

Yes!
Question stem: Which of the following statements could be true?
In this case, four answer choices will contradict information in the passage; the correct answer will not.
User avatar
agrasan
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jan 2024
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 677
Own Kudos:
174
Given Kudos: 6,488
Location: India
Posts: 677
Kudos: 174
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 23 Jul 2025, 23:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A. A reader's interpretation of a poem by Dickinson is affected by someone else's interpretation of it.
Could be true, a reader's system of beliefs can be changed after going through someone else's interpretation of the poem.

B. A modern reader and a nineteenth-century reader interpret one of Shakespeare's sonnets in the same way.
Cannot be true, we are clearly given "any two readers from different cultures or eras have radically different systems of beliefs" so we cannot expect that a reader from today's era and another from 19th century will interpret a poem in the same way.

C. A reader's interpretation of a poem evolves over time.
Could be true, a reader's system of beliefs can change over the time and so the interpretation.

D. Two readers from the same era arrive at different interpretations of the same poem.
Could be true, two readers can have different system of beliefs despite living in the same era.

E. A reader's enjoyment of a poem is enhanced by knowing the poet's interpretation of it.
Could be true, a reader's system of beliefs can be enhanced after knowing more perspectives from the poet.
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,441
Own Kudos:
79,413
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,441
Kudos: 79,413
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi Updated on: 17 Dec 2025, 23:11
Originally posted by KarishmaB on 17 Dec 2025, 23:04.
Last edited by Bunuel on 17 Dec 2025, 23:11, edited 2 times in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
venmic
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot reside entirely within a poem itself, but is always the unique result of an interaction between a reader's system of beliefs and the poem; and, of course, any two readers from different cultures or eras have radically different systems of beliefs.

If the critic's statements are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

A. A reader's interpretation of a poem by Dickinson is affected by someone else's interpretation of it.
B. A modern reader and a nineteenth-century reader interpret one of Shakespeare's sonnets in the same way.
C. A reader's interpretation of a poem evolves over time.
D. Two readers from the same era arrive at different interpretations of the same poem.
E. A reader's enjoyment of a poem is enhanced by knowing the poet's interpretation of it.


Show Spoiler
Can anyone explain E and B please

Need more similar questions? Run a 5 to 10 question quiz in GMAT Club Forum Quiz →
Show more

Here is a video solution to this question:

User avatar
rak08
User avatar
Joined: 01 Feb 2025
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 268
Own Kudos:
28
Given Kudos: 405
Location: India
Schools: NUS '26 ISB '26 INSEAD Aug '26
GPA: 7.14
Schools: NUS '26 ISB '26 INSEAD Aug '26
Posts: 268
Kudos: 28
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 04 Feb 2026, 21:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
do we conclude must be different because "is always the unique result of an interaction between a reader's system of beliefs and the poem".??

venmic
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot reside entirely within a poem itself, but is always the unique result of an interaction between a reader's system of beliefs and the poem; and, of course, any two readers from different cultures or eras have radically different systems of beliefs.

If the critic's statements are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

A. A reader's interpretation of a poem by Dickinson is affected by someone else's interpretation of it.
B. A modern reader and a nineteenth-century reader interpret one of Shakespeare's sonnets in the same way.
C. A reader's interpretation of a poem evolves over time.
D. Two readers from the same era arrive at different interpretations of the same poem.
E. A reader's enjoyment of a poem is enhanced by knowing the poet's interpretation of it.


Show Spoiler
Can anyone explain E and B please

Drill more questions that test the same idea in GMAT Club Timed Quiz → Free.
Show more
User avatar
DmitryFarber
User avatar
Joined: 04 Feb 2026
Last visit: 11 Mar 2026
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
9
 [1]
Status:Independent Test Prep Tutor
Affiliations: Dmitry Farber Test Prep
GMAT Focus 1: 745 Q86 V90 DI85
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V50
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 745 Q86 V90 DI85
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V50
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 3
Kudos: 9
 [1]
Critic: Emily Dickinson's poetry demonstrates that meaning cannot resi 05 Feb 2026, 00:31
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
That's right--the extremes make a difference. If I just said "you and I have different backgrounds, and that affects how we read poems," that doesn't necessarily preclude our reading a particular poem the same way. But if the meaning each person gets out of a poem is always a unique result of their beliefs, and if people from different eras reliably have different beliefs, then they will have to come up with different meanings.

By the way, it helps to keep in mind that while "unique" is often used loosely in everyday speech, its proper meaning is "one-of-a-kind," not just "special" or "rare."
rak08
do we conclude must be different because "is always the unique result of an interaction between a reader's system of beliefs and the poem".??


Show more
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
AbhishekP220108
506 posts
bhanu29
361 posts