The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely

Question

The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely devoid of matter . The interstellar spaces are filled with ‘dust’: very low density matter. This miniscule amount of matter, spread over almost infinite distances, acts like a curtain obscuring the stars that lie behind. If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night:  the sky would be entirely covered with stars .

The two parts in boldface play what roles in the argument above?

A. The first is a suggestion that the author wishes to dispute. The second is hypothesis that the author wishes to explain.
B. The first is the main point the author wishes to make. The second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point.
C. The first is a fact that the author thinks is important in explaining a certain phenomenon. The second is a result that the author would expect if that fact were not true.
D. The first is a speculation that the author wishes to justify. The second is a consequence that would result if that speculation is not true.
E. The first is an established fact that the author wishes to explain. The second is a consequence of accepting this fact.

Need explanation.......
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th03 · Answer

A) The first is  NOT  a suggestion. WRONG

B) The second is a hypothetical result of  NOT  accepting that point. WRONG

C) Makes sense. Keep it.

D) The first is  NOT  a speculation. It is a fact. WRONG

E) The second is a consequence of  NOT  accepting this fact. WRONG

Hence, C remains.

TGC · Answer

I would like to contradict in the answer choice .
IMO answer should be (D).
If I am not wrong then FACT is a FACT universally indisputable , but in this case it is Author's opinion
I think SPECULATION should have been correct as the author first speculates it then provides an example such that that speculation is demonized.And the SPECULATION now becomes FACT but only for the author.

PS:Correct me if I am wrong !!!

Marcab · Answer

A little bit of sentence correction and this question becomes as easy as clapping.
Notice that the author says:
 If it were not for this material  we would see no dark patches in the sky at night.  The blue portion assumes that if it were not ture then this may happen. That implies that actually it is true.
The author then creates a situation that if it were not true then the sky would have been entirely covered with stars . Hence the first boldface is a clear stated fact.
The second is a consequence the author expects if the fact were not true.

Among the answer choices, C is the ideal answer.
Hope that helps.

Marcab · Answer

@mun23: Do mention the source of the questions please. It helps the members to realize that they are practicing GMAT materials only.
Thanks

Archit143 · Answer

Here's my take
1st is Fact
2nd is Claim

Options A and D can be eliminated.
Now the argument states "if the 1st argument were not true than a conclusion could not have been arrived upon i.e. 2 nd statement could not have been arrived upon"
So the 2nd can not be a conclusion or consequence....its a cause and effect...
Hence only C remains.

marcab thanx edited it was typo

thangvietname · Answer

normally, bold phrase questions contain a main conclusion. I can not find one inhere

kanusha · Answer

C...
 
1.first is a evidence/ data point/fact to disprove the second statement

2. if 1st is disproved results in....

jlgdr · Answer

OK, let’s try this one. Let’s begin dissecting the stimulus. What is the conclusion? It is actually the first boldface. The second boldface, will be then more of a prediction that the author holds. Let’s see what we have in the answer choices. ‘A’ says that the first is a suggestion, this is wrong. It is not a suggestion it is a fact. I don’t even have to keep reading the rest. ‘B’, the first is the main point the author wishes to make. This is true, we already identified this as the conclusion. It also says that the ‘second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point’. This is clearly not true. So ‘B’ is out. Now, let’s go for ‘D’. The first is a speculation. Again, this is a fact. It is not a speculation. So ‘D’ is out. Finally, ‘E’. ‘The first is a fact’, this is correct. The second is a ‘consequence of accepting this fact’. This second portion is obviously wrong. So ‘C’ must be the correct answer. Let’s make sure it makes sense. The first is a ‘fact’. This is true. The second is a result that the author would expect if the fact were not true. This is also correct. Now, Role questions take some time specially the more ambiguous types such as these one. Note that we won’t always have clear synonyms of building blocks in our answer choices. Sometimes, we will have to distuinguish between ‘Fact’ and ‘Opinion/Speculation/Suggestion etc…. Also be sure to read the entire answer. We have to make sure that everything matches, since we have two boldface here, we must make sure that both of them are correctly described in the correct answer choice. Hope it helps Cheers! J

mvictor · Answer

First is a fact/data point - this cannot be disputed.
second is the author's opinion what would have been if the first statement had not been not true.

A - the author does not dispute the first statement. 
B - the first is a fact, not a point/conclusion.
C - yes, first is a fact. the second is the result if that fact is not true. Correct.
D - first is not a speculation
E - the second is a consequence if the FACT is NOT true. so incorrect.

Celestial09 · Answer

Dear experts
Please help in analysis st b / c & d
Chetan4u. Magoosh. Egmat. 
As I am unable to differentiate between fact and speculation reasoning.
Thanks

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Mavisdu1017 · Answer

I don’t think any choices is correct cuz BF1 should be the conclusion(main point) but not a fact, otherwise there is no conclusion in the passage.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely

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