Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partia

Question

Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags.  Some have raised the question of whether the new bags have,  for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.  The answer is, of course, yes, as the number of bags required for each shopper is reduced so long as the number of items purchased remains constant.

In the table, select the statement that describes the role of the first bold portion and select the statement the describes the role of the second bold portion. Make two selections, one in each column.

wadhwakaran · Answer

BF-1
Thin plastic bags broke easily and had to be double-bagged. Therefore, the supermarket at least partially switched from these bags to vinyl bags which are twice as strong as the older plastic bags. 
It seems BF-1 sets the premise for the argument. A picture is presented in the BF-1

BF-2
Some people raised the question as to whether new bags actually reduced the no. of bags used now than the no. of bags used earlier
A question is raised in BF-2 and the answer to the question shall be provided by the conclusion of the argument.

Conclusion: 
The conclusion of the argument provides answer to the question raised by the BF-2.

Calls the conclusion of the argument as a whole into question.  Neither BF-1 nor BF-2 calls the conclusion of the argument as a whole into question. Therefore, this one can be ruled out easily. 
Provides support for the conclusion of the argument.  Neither BF-1 nor BF-2 provides support for the conclusion of the argument. 
Establishes a position that the argument as a whole opposes. Neither BF-1 nor BF-2 establishes any position that the argument as a whole opposes. Therefore, this one can be ruled out easily. 
Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.  As per the roles played by each argument above. It seems BF-1 plays the role of the context setter and the argument successfully takes side of the new vinyl bags. Therefore, it can be said that this option points to the role of BF-1.  
Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.  This option clearly points to the role played by BF-2 in the argument. How the BF-2 raises a question and the answer to which is given by the conclusion of the argument. Therefore, it can be said that this option points to the role of BF-2. 
Is the conclusion that the argument, as a whole, supports.  Neither BF-1 nor BF-2 is the conclusion that the argument supports. Therefore, this one can be easily ruled out.

Kushchokhani · Answer

Role of 1st bold portion- Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
1st bold face is the background info i.e. context of the argument. Hence, D.

Role of 2nd bold portion- Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.
Just before 2nd bold face, a ques is introduced with the keyword "whether" and the boldface itself is the nature of the ques. What follows the second boldface is the main conclusion of the argument. hence, E.

summerindecember · Answer

Role of 1st bold portion:  Provides support for the conclusion of the argument. 
 
 Role of 2nd bold portion:  Calls the conclusion of the argument as a whole into question.

joanagmat · Answer

1st bold statement: "Provides support for the conclusion of the argument." 
2nd bold statement: "Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply."

UtkarshAnand · Answer

Role of 1st bold portion: Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
Role of 2nd bold portion: Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

MiloMia · Answer

Background: Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags.

Counter: Some have raised the question of whether the new bags have, for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.

Conclusion: The answer is, of course, yes, as the number of bags required for each shopper is reduced so long as the number of items purchased remains constant.

1st Bold: Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
2nd Bold: Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

JDLaw · Answer

Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags. - This is a fact, i.e. there are no conclusions, just explaining the situation Therefore, answer for this if option 4-Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.

for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.  - The conclusion is given right after this statement, which is an answer to this statement! Therefore Option 5 is the answer here-Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

Archit3110 · Answer

BF 1 : 
 Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags.

Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.

BF2 
 for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.

Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply

Arm007 · Answer

Lets solve it like a CR question.

Premise: Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags.

Question from other people, not author: Some have raised the question of whether the new bags have, for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.

Conclusion of Author: The answer is, of course, yes, as the number of bags required for each shopper is reduced so long as the number of items purchased remains constant.

So The Second bold portion is a question:
It asks/raises a question, and conclusion answers it. - Keep option 5
This is neither the conclusion, nor is it a premise - option 2,6 are out.
It does not support the conclusion. Also it is just a questions and it does not oppose or call the conclusion to question - option 1,3,6 are out

Hence option 5 is correct. This bold face explains what the question of critics is and what is author trying to answer.
The second bold portion  Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

The first bold face is a premise, which weakly supports the conclusion. It also acts as the background info: 
It is not the conclusion. - option 6 is out
Doesn't oppose the conclusion/argument: option 1,3 are out
It is not the question: so option 5 is out
Though this statement weakly supports the conclusion it also raises many questions like than it answers. For ex, the employees could use this vinyl bag even in cases when it was not necessary and don't use them where it was necesssary. Effectively the total number of bags hasn't gone down: option 2 is out

Hence option 4. It provides the context to the debate (whether the bag usage has gone down) and the argument answers it. 
The first bold portion  Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.

av1901 · Answer

Argument synopsis: A supermarket chain has switched to better quality stronger bags (more than twice as strong as previous ones) to avoid the double bagging that used to happen. Some people have raised questions whether these new stronger bags have reduced the total number of bags being used than before. The answer is a resounding yes (for a specific number of items)

The first part of the argument and the part where some people have raised questions are the two boldface portions of the argument

From pre-analysis, we can say that the first bold portion is basically an introduction/fact/premise that is the basis for the remaining of the argument and based on which the author/argument picks a side
And the second bold portion is a question being posed which is then attempted to be answered later in the argument

Conclusion: The answer is, of course, yes, as the number of bags required for each shopper is reduced so long as the number of items purchased remains constant.

Let us now examine the answer choices:

Calls the conclusion of the argument as a whole into question.

Neither bold face portions call the above mentioned conclusion into question. First portion is a premise leading into the argument and second is a question posed

Provides support for the conclusion of the argument.

Neither portions provide support for the conclusion. Again, the first tells us a fact/premise which is the basis for the argument that happens and then a conclusion is reached on that and the second is a question which is answered in the form of the conclusion later

Establishes a position that the argument as a whole opposes.

No. The first is what the argument leads with to start and the second is a question based on the first fact and then leads to the conclusion

Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.

YES! The first bold face portion provides a fact/premise, sort of a context by stating that the supermarket has switched to these bags, which then leads to a debate and a conclusion

Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

YES! The second bold face portion is a question being posed by some people that whether these new bags opted by the supermarket are reducing the number of bags being used. And answer to this is provided in the next sentence, which is the conclusion of the argument

Is the conclusion that the argument, as a whole, supports.

No, the first is simply a premise/fact/context and the second is a question posed, the answer to which is the conclusion. So, neither portion is the conclusion

Answer:

First Bold Face Portion: Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
Second Bold Face Portion: Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

Shankey94 · Answer

Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags. Some have raised the question of whether the new bags have, for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.  The answer is, of course, yes, as the number of bags required for each shopper is reduced so long as the number of items purchased remains constant.

Conclusion: The last statement is the conclusion i.e. the shift to new polybags has actually reduced number of polybags required for fixed number of items.

First bold statement is actually the premise. It supports the conclusion by comparing strength of old plastics vs new plastics.

Second Statement: It actually questions the conclusion into question by asking whether the proposed change has actually any impact or not.

rajtare · Answer

First bold portion: Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
Second bold portion: Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello Everyone!

The OA to this question is:

Role of 1st bold portion:  Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
 Role of 2nd bold portion:  Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

The same is posted in the question's main post. Official Explanation to follow soon. Visit the main thread to find Day 3 questions.

Good Luck!

pintukr · Answer

1st Boldface portion (Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partially from thin plastic bags that broke easily and had to be double-bagged frequently to new vinyl bags that are more than twice as strong as the older plastic bags.)

Here, the argument takes the view that new vinyl bags have reduced the the number of bags required for each shopper

Hence, the answer is :   Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a sid e

2nd Boldface portion (for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before. Boldface portion)

Note here, that the boldface portion is actually referring to the question ie, whether the new bags have, for a given number of items, reduced the number of bags that must be used than it did before.

Hence, the answer is :   Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

The first statement provides context about the debate, giving the history of the decision to adopt the new bags. The last sentence of the passage is the conclusion, which gives an answer to the second bold-faced portion. Hence, the answers are D and E, respectively.

Answer:   
 Role of 1st bold portion:  Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
 Role of 2nd bold portion:  Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.

Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partia

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Role of 1st bold portion	Role of 2nd bold portion
		Calls the conclusion of the argument as a whole into question.
		Provides support for the conclusion of the argument.
		Establishes a position that the argument as a whole opposes.
		Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
		Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.
		Is the conclusion that the argument, as a whole, supports.

Role of 1st bold portion	Role of 2nd bold portion
		Calls the conclusion of the argument as a whole into question.
		Provides support for the conclusion of the argument.
		Establishes a position that the argument as a whole opposes.
		Provides context for a debate about which the argument takes a side.
		Explains the nature of the question, the answer to which the conclusion of the argument attempts to supply.
		Is the conclusion that the argument, as a whole, supports.

GMAT Two-part Analysis (TPA) Questions

Jons supermarket chain's stores have recently switched at least partia

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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My Rewards