Pundit: Many people blame the construction of retail locations

Question

Pundit:  Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years.  Yet clearly, online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline. In the past ten years, sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply and surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that many purchasers of books online, if convenient online options had not been available to them, would otherwise have purchased books at a local bookstore.

In the pundit's argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles?

(A) It is the main conclusion of the argument.
(B) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.
(C) It is an explanation that the argument concludes is correct.
(D) It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
(E) It introduces a judgement that the argument opposes.

sayantanc2k · Accepted Answer

Consider this way: The underlined part states that  X caused Y . The rest of the argument states that  Z (something other than X) causes Y . This is a very frequent logic chain used in GMAT.

X causes Y  is weakened by  Z causes Y .

(Here X = construction of retail location,
Y= decline in locally owned book shops,
Z = online sales of book ).

Having that said, even then option E seems to be problematic because of the word "also" in "online sales of books have ALSO played an important role in this decline". This part suggests that the author does not oppose but rather supports that X caused Y.

If the word "also" were not there, then the explanation (why E is correct) would be well-reasoned.

Nightfury14 · Answer

RaghavSingla  .. Hi !!

The word Judgement is justified because the boldface part starts with - "Many people  blame  ", Blame is a kind of judgement one makes, right or wrong irrespective.

In CR questions, "seeks to explain" phrasing is open ended phrasing - seeks to explain  for the argument  or seeks to explain  against the argument .
Hence the first part of the statement is critical.
In choice B, It says "a finding" - This may be true if the argument started with -"A survey revealed, that the construction"

Hope this resolves the query.

RaghavSingla · Answer

I chose B. Don't know how OA is correct. E says that "It introduces a judgement that the argument opposes.", however, argument never seems to oppose it in any way. It just supports another factor   along with establishment of retail locations.

B is on the other hand states that " It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.". Surely, the reader expects an explanation for the first line. The word "finding" however seems to be odd here since it is just an opinion and not a finding. I chose B coz I couldn't find any better option.

Any Official explanation ?

RaghavSingla · Answer

Hi,

I understood the explanation for the word 'judgement'. However, where is the argument opposing that judgement? The argument never opposed the establishment of retail locations. Where I am wrong?

Nightfury14 · Answer

I understand where you are coming from.
Oppose here refers to - The rest of the non-bold face argument disagrees with the judgement. This is highlighted in the passage.

Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years.  Yet clearly,  online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline. In the past ten years, sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply and surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that many purchasers of books online, if convenient online options had not been available to them,  would otherwise  have purchased books at a local bookstore.

hsbinfy · Answer

b/w B and E , E wins as it is a judgement made by the Pundit.

sayan640 · Answer

I chose option E because of the word "Yet ...." ( signifying "oppose" ) and "blame" ( signifying "a judgement")...

VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja   generis  Please throw some light as to why option B is incorrect...
 chetan2u

KarishmaB · Answer

Stmnt in Bold: Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years.

Sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply
Surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that they would have purchased books at a local bookstore if online was not there.
Conclusion: Clearly, online sales of books have also played an important role in the decline.

(A) It is the main conclusion of the argument.

No. The statement in bold is not the conclusion.

(B) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.

No. The argument is explaining how online sales have also played a role in decline of sales at local bookstores. It does not seek to explain that retail locations by major corporations are responsible for decline in locally owned bookstores.

(C) It is an explanation that the argument concludes is correct.

No. The argument on the whole opposes the statement in bold.

(D) It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

Nope. It does not provide support to the conclusion. It opposes the main conclusion.

(E) It introduces a judgement that the argument opposes.

Correct. The argument opposes the statement in bold.

Answer (E)

rnn · Answer

I chose B as well "Pundit: Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years. Yet clearly, online sales of books have ALSO played an important role in this decline."

The "also" shows that while the first statement might have some truth to it, there is a better alternative... So I dont know how the argument opposes it

The "also" shows that while the first statement might have some truth to it, there is a better alternative... So I dont know how the argument opposes it

anothermillenial · Answer

rnn  You're right, but the author doesn't mention a "better alternative"...it's just another factor for the decline. The argument DOES oppose the first statement because the author disagrees that the "construction of retail location" is the ONLY factor. By bringing to light the second factor - presence of online bookstores - the author opposes the popular belief that 100% of decline is because of corporations. Instead, he argues it may just account for 50%.

-

Pundit:  Many people blame the construction of retail locations by major corporation for the decline in locally owned bookstores over the past ten years.  Yet clearly, online sales of books have also played an important role in this decline. In the past ten years, sales by online retailers of books have risen sharply and surveys of consumer behavior have indicated that many purchasers of books online, if convenient online options had not been available to them, would otherwise have purchased books at a local bookstore.

Notes   
(opinion)  people say construction of rtl. → ↓ bookstores over 10 yrs 
(conclusion) YET online sales also → ↓ bookstores 
(evidence) online book sales ↑
(evidence) consumer surveys: no convenient option → purchase online
  
 Analysis & Pre-Think   
Our expert here first gives us context for his argument by sharing with us what "many people" believe to be the cause of "decline in locally owned bookstores." He then  partially refutes  this viewpoint with his own conclusion: "online sales have ALSO played an important role." He supports his argument with two pieces of supporting evidence: 1) sales risen over the same period and 2) surveys indicate convenience of online bookstores provide convenience.

What is the role of bold-face? It's just merely stating a different viewpoint. 
How does it relate to the conclusion? It just raises an opposing view that the author partially disagrees with. 
This tell us we're looking for an answer that says: viewpoint/opinion that conclusion opposes.

In the pundit's argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles?

(A) It is the  main conclusion  of the argument. 
This is incorrect. The main conclusion is the second sentence, which discusses the online sales being a reason for the decline in locally owned bookstores.

(B) It is a  finding  that the argument seeks to explain. 
The bold-face section is not a finding. A finding is a fact found in a survey/study. We were given a viewpoint/opinion.

(C) It is an explanation that the argument  concludes is correc t. 
This is false. The author concludes that the popular explanation for the decline in stores is NOT ONLY because of construction BUT ALSO because of the proliferation of online bookstores. Also, we're looking for something "opposite".

(D) It provides  evidence in support  of the main conclusion of the argument. 
Again, the bold-face portion is not evidence. Two, it does not support the main conclusion at all.

( E) It introduces a  judgement  that the argument  opposes . 
Is it a judgement? Yes - a judgement of "many people" that the author opposes or believes to be partially incorrect.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

Reading the question: this question has a novel characteristic, boldfaced text. The question stem asks for the role of the boldfaced text, and the answer choices are stated in general, logical terms, not in terms of the specifics of the argument. Indeed, all boldfaced text questions have these properties:

1. A prompt that contains one or more arguments;
2. A question stem that asks for the role of the boldfaced statements;
3. Answer choices that are stated in general, logical terms.

On boldfaced questions, you don't need to evaluate the argument. Rather, summarize the role of the boldfaced statements and how the boldfaced statements are related to the non-boldfaced statements, and look for your summary in the answer choices.

Creating a filter: we have multiple arguments here. Opinion-charged words can be our guides. The phrase "many people blame" kicks off one argument. Then, the phrase, "yet clearly," kicks off an opposing viewpoint. On the basis of those observations alone, we can construct a filter to evaluate the answer choices. The boldfaced sentence gives the opinion of many people, and then the rest of the prompt is the pundit's counterargument.

Applying the filter: matching our prediction with the answer choices, we find that it's present in (E).

The correct answer is (E).

soumya170293 · Answer

Really can't grasp how the bold faced part is getting opposed by the argument . Oppose is a strong connotation and the total argument does not talk about a single word in favor or in oppose against retail bookstalls except the statement made by pundit in the first part and so why  also  has been introduced after  yet clearly , online sales of books have also played an important role  . Though I know yet is a contrasting word . If  Also   is not in the statement then only we can say the OA is E .

mSKR · Answer

You maybe right to some extend. But you need to interpret in following manner.

Example: You say something happens because of X.
Other person says: Ok, X maybe the reason, But Y is the major reason

If you need to make a choice: What other person argument relation with your statement. 
Do you think it supports? , neutral? or weakens?
The tendency is towards weakening the claim, right?

For the question, Why answer is E.
(E) It introduces a  judgement  that the argument  opposes .
Also , would not make much a difference.

Another example: When a manager gives his employees negative grade. Do they usually say directly - you are poor performer or they start with some nice words. You are hardworking but it was not enough for the grade. You need to work hard. 
Do you think managers by saying you are hardworking, overall he doesn't mean to give negative grade?

I hope it is clear.

Hoozan · Answer

EducationAisle  don't you think (E) is a bit too extreme?

(E) It introduces a judgment that the argument  opposes.

The way I see it, the argument doesn't oppose the BF. It agrees to it but "adds further this the explanation" I found "opposes" to be an incorrect word.

If the argument stated something like "However, the survey conducted shows that..." Or "The survey of conducted provided another reason" then the word "opposes" could be justified. But the argument states  "online sales of books  have also  played an important role"  Thus implying that the BF is one reason and there is another reason as well

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi! :

Bold Face: Many people opine that decline in locally owned bookstores is  because of construction of retail locations  by major corporation

The argument's conclusion: decline in locally owned bookstores is  because of increasing popularity of online sales  of books.

So, to that extent, I would say that the argument does oppose the bold face, because the argument states that it was not construction of retail locations, but increasing popularity of online sales that contributed to decline in locally owned bookstores.

mSKR · Answer

you misunderstand a small part

retail locations   IS NOT  online sales of books 
So definitely the argument is opposed to judgment given the bold statement 
conclusion : 1. online business ..If no online business then local stores .so online business is direct reason ,but not retail locations . It maybe possible that retail locations don't have books at all . Even If they have books , it s given for 2nd choice consumers would prefer local stores over retail stores.

I hope it is clear

VerbalBot · Answer

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Pundit: Many people blame the construction of retail locations

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