On May 5th, 1997, the European edition of Business Tech Magazine

Question

On May 5th, 1997, the European edition of  Business Tech Magazine  led with Hoffman’s cover story "Internet Communities: How They're Shaping Electronic Commerce". This cover story highlights the extent to which the term virtual community has become almost synonymous with various forms of group-CMCs (computer mediated communication), including email-list forums, chat-systems such as IRC, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups. There was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article as to whether the group-CMC discussions are really 'communities', rather how community as opposed to content can be used to encourage people to return to a particular part of cyberspace for commercial gain. In a similar vein, Simpson and Armstrong in "Internet Gain" argue that ignoring virtual communities would be a great loss of a marketing tool for businesses. They define virtual communities as computer mediated space where there is an integration of content and communication with an emphasis on member-generated content.

Not all virtual community commentators agree with the Spartan position taken by Hoffman. Rheingold, one of the prime popularizers of the term virtual community, provides us with a more emotive definition in his book  The Virtual Community : Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier. According to Rheingold, "virtual communities are social aggregations that emerge from the Net when enough people carry on those public discussions long enough, with sufficient human feeling, to form webs of personal relationships in cyberspace". Rheingold's definition is extremely popular and has been quoted in many discussions about virtual communities. As discussed below, for social scientists, particularly sociologists, Rheingold's definition raises many issues, especially concerning the notion of community. This is because Rheingold argues via a variety of analogies from the real world such as homesteading that virtual communities are indeed new forms of "community". In fact, Rheingold implies that virtual communities are actually "a kind of ultimate flowering of community". Moreover, Rheingold maintains that whenever computer mediated communications technology becomes available, people inevitably create communities with it. Rheingold can thus be labeled as a technological determinist as he holds that there is a predictable relationship between technology and people's behavior.

The debate over the validity of Rheingold's position has raised doubts about the existence of virtual communities and the appropriate use of the term. Weinreich claims that the idea of virtual communities must be wrong because community is a collective of kinship networks that share a common geographic region, a common history, and a shared value system, usually rooted in a common religion. In other words, Weinreich rejects the existence of virtual communities because group-CMC discussions cannot possibly meet his definition. In Weinreich's view, anyone with even a basic knowledge of sociology understands that information exchange in no way constitutes a community.    1 
 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) suggest an alternate definition for the term virtual communities
(B) challenge the validity of group-CMCs in the virtual community
(C) discuss whether group-CMCs constitute real communities
(D) present two opposing hypotheses and presents research and evidence to support them
(E) emphasize the unsuitability of traditional definitions of community in light of the recent establishment of virtual communities on the Net

2 
 2. According to Simpson and Armstrong, virtual communities

(A) are not as effective as content in encouraging people to return to a particular part of the Internet.
(B) emphasize attracting new members through their use of absorbing content
(C) are not really communities, but simply group-CMC discussions
(D) has become almost synonymous with various forms of group-CMCs
(E) are an invaluable marketing tool for businesses.

3 
 3. Weinreich rejects Rheingold’s inclusion of virtual communities in the definition of communities for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

(A) virtual communities do not usually exchange information
(B) virtual communities do not usually share the same territory
(C) virtual communities do not usually share values
(D) virtual communities do not usually share a common history
(E) virtual communities are not usually rooted in a common religion

4 
 4. The author says ‘there was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article’ to emphasize which of the following points?

(A) It is not content but community that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(B) It is not community but content that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(C) It would be a great loss of a business-marketing tool if virtual communities were ignored.
(D) There are various forms of group-CMCs, including email-list forums, chat systems, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups.
(E) Business Tech Magazine had already assumed that group-CMCs are communities.

Letsclatit · Accepted Answer

2. According to Simpson and Armstrong, virtual communities

(A) are not as effective as content in encouraging people to return to a particular part of the Internet. .....irrelevent/out of scope
(B) emphasize attracting new members through their use of absorbing content ...nothing abt new members
(C) are not really communities, but simply group-CMC discussions ...contradicting
(D) has become almost synonymous with various forms of group-CMCs ...incorrect
(E) are an invaluable marketing tool for businesses. ......correct

the answer to this is here 'Simpson and Armstrong in "Internet Gain" argue that ignoring virtual communities would be a  great loss of a marketing tool for businesses.  They define virtual communities as computer mediated space where there is an integration of content and communication with an emphasis on member-generated content.'

3. Weinreich rejects Rheingold’s inclusion of virtual communities in the definition of communities for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

(A) virtual communities do not usually exchange information ...correct
(B) virtual communities do not usually share the same territory
(C) virtual communities do not usually share values
(D) virtual communities do not usually share a common history
(E) virtual communities are not usually rooted in a common religion

Weinreich claims that the idea of virtual communities must be wrong because community is a collective of kinship networks that share a common geographic region, a common history, and a shared value system, usually rooted in a common religion.

4. The author says ‘there was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article’ to emphasize which of the following points?

(A) It is not content but community that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(B) It is not community but content that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(C) It would be a great loss of a business-marketing tool if virtual communities were ignored.
(D) There are various forms of group-CMCs, including email-list forums, chat systems, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups.
(E) Business Tech Magazine had already assumed that group-CMCs are communities. ....correct

There was   no debate  in the Business Tech Magazine article as to  whether the group-CMC discussions are really 'communities'  , rather how community as opposed to content can be used to encourage people to return to a particular part of cyberspace for commercial gain.

RohiniK · Answer

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) suggest an alternate definition for the term virtual communities
(B) challenge the validity of group-CMCs in the virtual community
(C) discuss whether group-CMCs constitute real communities
(D) present two opposing hypotheses and presents research and evidence to support them
(E) emphasize the unsuitability of traditional definitions of community in light of the recent establishment of virtual communities on the Net

(A) suggest an alternate definition for the term virtual communities - Definitions of many people as per their view are given but there is no one alternate definition. Hence Incorrect
(B) challenge the validity of group-CMCs in the virtual community - the tone doesn't suggest the author was challenging anything 
 (C) discuss whether group-CMCs constitute real communities - The whole passage talks about definition of virtual communities 
 (D) present two opposing hypotheses and presents research and evidence to support them - there is no research or evidence
(E) emphasize the unsuitability of traditional definitions of community in light of the recent establishment of virtual communities on the Net

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. Weinreich rejects Rheingold's inclusion of virtual communities in the definition of communities for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

Difficulty Level:   Easy

Explanation

Remember this is an EXCEPT question, and we have to find something which cannot be validated by passage or something which opposes the passage. Also, this question is based on the last paragraph, so go back and read the related text from the last paragraph again.

"Weinreich claims that the idea of virtual communities must be wrong because the community is a collective of kinship networks that share a common geographic region, a common history, and a shared value system, usually rooted in a common religion. In other words, Weinreich rejects the existence of virtual communities because group-CMC discussions cannot possibly meet his definition. In Weinreich's view, anyone with even a basic knowledge of sociology understands that information exchange in no way constitutes a community."

Use POE to reach the answer. Let's read each answer choice one by one.

(A) virtual communities do not usually exchange information

In Weinreich's view, anyone with even a basic knowledge of sociology  understands that information exchange  in no way constitutes a community."

Directly opposes what is written in the passage; The question asks you to identify what does NOT stop Weinreich from considering a virtual community a real community. An exchange of information is not problematic for Weinreich.

(B) virtual communities do not usually share the same territory

This is true according to the passage; read the related text above.

(C) virtual communities do not usually share values

According to the passage, this is also true; read the related text above.

(D) virtual communities do not usually share a common history

Again this is true according to the passage; read the related text above.

(E) virtual communities are not usually rooted in a common religion

According to the passage, this one is also true; read the related text above.

Answer: A

4. The author says 'there was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article' to emphasize which of the following points?

Difficulty Level:   Medium

Explanation

This question is based on a particular text from the first paragraph; we can go back to re-read the related text from the passage:

"There was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article as to whether the group-CMC discussions are really 'communities', rather how community, as opposed to content, can be used to encourage people to return to a particular part of cyberspace for commercial gain."

Now read the answer choices one by one.

(A) It is not content but community that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website

This is a trap! This choice uses similar known words from the passage but is not correct for the question above.

(B) It is not community but content that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website

This is also incorrect, similar to (A) twisting the passage's information but in the wrong manner.

(C) It would be a great loss of a business-marketing tool if virtual communities were ignored.

Not related at all.

(D) There are various forms of group-CMCs, including email-list forums, chat systems, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups.

Out of scope

(E) Business Tech Magazine had already assumed that group-CMCs are communities.

This is the best choice. The passage discusses whether group-CMCs are communities. Business Tech Magazine does not debate this issue because it has already assumed that they are.

Answer: E

100mitra · Answer

RC #10 Long Passage {13 mins 3/4 correct}
  Paraphrasing:   
  Para 1:    Hoffman’s cover story "Internet Communities: How They're Shaping Electronic Commerce" article created synonymous between virtual community and Group CMC’s, led to oppose, how internet virtual content can use for commercial gains with help of cyberspace – as a marketing tool for business.

Para2:   Not agreeing with Hoffman virtual communities used for commercial gain, Rheingold book “The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier” can be labelled as a technological determinist as he holds that there is a predictable relationship between technology and people's behavior.

Para3:   The debate over the validity of Rheingold's position has raised doubts about the existence of virtual communities and the appropriate use of the term, Weinreich's view, anyone with even a basic knowledge of sociology understands that information exchange in no way constitutes a community.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to  
(A) suggest an alternate definition for the term virtual communities
  Wrong:   there is no alternate definition defined for term virtual communities

(B) challenge the validity of group-CMCs in the virtual community
  Wrong:   group CMC’s can use virtual communities for commercial gain, social interaction or even both, so there is no challenge to validity group CMC’s is done in passage

(C) discuss whether group-CMCs constitute real communities
  Correct: as mentioned in passage Hoffman’s article, Rheingold book and Weinreich claims, are the part of discussion, whether group CMC’s constitute real communities.

(D) present two opposing hypotheses and presents research and evidence to support them
  Wrong:   Trap! Because each paragraph has its own view of individual, but there is no research and evidence data mentioned in passage, passage deals only with discussion points, view and opinion of virtual/cyber experts

(E) emphasize the unsuitability of traditional definitions of community in light of the recent establishment of virtual communities on the Net
  Wrong:   No emphasis situation mentioned in passage for establishment of virtual communities

2. According to Simpson and Armstrong, virtual communities  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in passage para 1, Simpson and Armstrong in "Internet Gain" argue that ignoring virtual communities would be a great loss of a marketing tool for businesses. They define virtual communities as computer mediated space where there is an integration of content and communication with an emphasis on member-generated content.”

(A) are not as effective as content in encouraging people to return to a particular part of the Internet   – Wrong - mentioned in Hoffman’s cover story  
(B) emphasize attracting new members through their use of absorbing content   – Wrong - mentioned in Rheingold Book, social aggregations  
(C) are not really communities, but simply group-CMC discussions   – Wrong - mentioned in Rheingold Book, social aggregations  
(D) has become almost synonymous with various forms of group-CMCs   – Wrong - mentioned in Hoffman’s cover story  
 (E) are an invaluable marketing tool for businesses  – Correct – as mentioned in explanation

3. Weinreich rejects Rheingold’s inclusion of virtual communities in the definition of communities for all of the following reasons  EXCEPT   
  Explanation:   Para 3: Weinreich claims that the idea of virtual communities must be wrong because community is a collective of kinship networks that share 
a common  geographic region , 
a common  history , and 
a shared  value system , usually rooted in a common religion.

(A) virtual communities do not usually exchange information   - No  
(B) virtual communities do not usually share the same territory   – yes  
(C) virtual communities do not usually share values   – yes  
(D) virtual communities do not usually share a common history   – yes  
(E) virtual communities are not usually rooted in a common religion  – yes

4. The author says ‘there was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article’ to emphasize which of the following points?  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in para 1 
 Sentence 1: ” This cover story highlights the extent to which the term virtual community has become almost synonymous with various forms of group-CMCs”
 Sentence 2:  “There was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article as to whether the group-CMC discussions are really 'communities”

(A) It is not content but community that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
  Wrong:   This is one part of question raise by communities as mentioned in para 1, sentence “how community as opposed to content can be used to encourage people to return to a particular part of cyberspace for commercial gain”

(B) It is not community but content that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
  Wrong:   This is one part of question raise by communities as mentioned in para 1, sentence “how community as opposed to content can be used to encourage people to return to a particular part of cyberspace for commercial gain”

(C) It would be a great loss of a business-marketing tool if virtual communities were ignored.
  Wrong:   this is the statement given by Simpsons and Armstrong to support virtual communities to use cyberspace as a business marketing tool

(D) There are various forms of group-CMCs, including email-list forums, chat systems, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups.
  Wrong:   it’s the information used to define group CMC’s

(E) Business Tech Magazine had already assumed that group-CMCs are communities.
  Correct: hence there was no debate, as mentioned about in explanation for this question

Sneha2021 · Answer

KarishmaB   GMATNinja

Please help me to understand why E is correct and A is incorrect.
How to identify the emphasis on a particular line "There was no debate in the Business"?
4. The author says ‘there was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article’ to emphasize which of the following points?

(A) It is not content but community that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(E) Business Tech Magazine had already assumed that group-CMCs are communities.

Thank you for your help!

KarishmaB · Answer

Question 4.

4. The author says ‘there was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article’ to emphasize which of the following points?

(A) It is not content but community that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(B) It is not community but content that can be used to entice the public to go back to a commercial website
(C) It would be a great loss of a business-marketing tool if virtual communities were ignored.
(D) There are various forms of group-CMCs, including email-list forums, chat systems, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups.
(E) Business Tech Magazine had already assumed that group-CMCs are communities.

This is a 'function' question. What role is played by a particular word/phrase etc? The emphasis is not on this line but rather, by stating this, what is the author emphasizing? We have to focus on the function of this line only.

Note this:

This cover story highlights the extent to which the term virtual community has become almost synonymous with various forms of group-CMCs (computer mediated communication), including email-list forums, chat-systems such as IRC, web-based discussion areas and UseNet news-groups. There was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article as to whether the group-CMC discussions are really 'communities', rather how community as opposed to content can be used to encourage people to return to a particular part of cyberspace for commercial gain.

Take a simpler example: If I say, "The question was not whether he should have visited her; the point was for how long should he have visited," what am I saying? What am I emphasizing by saying "The question was not whether he should have visited her"? I am emphasizing that it was anyway clear that he should have visited. That was not the point of discussion at all.  The duration of the visit was the point of discussion. (one step ahead)

Similarly here, by saying "There was no debate in the Business Tech Magazine article as to whether the group-CMC discussions are really communities", the author is saying that it was anyway clear that group-CMC discussions were already assumed to be communities. That was not the point of debate. The debate was on "how 'community' as opposed to content can be used to encourage people to return" (one step ahead)
 
Answer (E)

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VerbalBot · Answer

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On May 5th, 1997, the European edition of Business Tech Magazine

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

On May 5th, 1997, the European edition of Business Tech Magazine

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