Boldface Critical Reasoning: New Type of Questions on GMAT


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New Questions on GMAT

One of the new question types in GMAT CAT is the bolded question in Critical Reasoning Section. In such argument, one or two sentences in stimulus are bolded. A sample question looks like this.

Something must be done to stop spam. In early days, people seldom received unsolicited email advertisement; but now that numerous bulk email software and email address finders are developed to collect email address all around the world. Advertisers use email addresses to market their products and even sell such email lists to other advertisers. As a result, almost everyone ever get junk email, and sometime several and even tens of annoying emails a day. So, relevant anti-spam regulations should be framed to stop unsolicited advertising.

The two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. Background that the argument depends on and conclusion that can be drawn from the argument.

B. Part of evidence that the argument includes, and inference that can be drawn from this passage.

C. Pre-evidence that the argument depends on and part of evidence that supports the conclusion.

D. Background that argument depends on and part of evidence that supports the conclusion.

E. Pre-evidence that argument includes and a method that helps to supports that conclusion.

The question following requires you to identify the logical relationship between the boldfaced sentences, or how it relates to a particular position (the author agrees or disagrees).

Boldface question is totally new on computer-based test, but is easy to tackle. All you have to do is to understand the argument: identify the conclusion, evidence, and the reasoning from evidence to conclusion. Sometime, you are required to critique the validity of the argument.

How to approach Boldface Question

1. Identify the conclusion. Ask yourself what the conclusion is, what the author is trying to prove, or what the author’s main point is.

2. Look for the evidence that the author uses to support or argue against a position.

3. Search for argument indicator to determine the relationship between evidence and conclusion.

Conclusion Indicators

so	thus	therefore	as a result
consequently	accordingly	hence	imply
conclude that	follows that	means that	infer that

Premise Indicators

*because*	*since*	*for*	as
if	*assume*	*suppose*	*evidence*
*on the basis of*	*the reason is that*	*may be derived from*	*in that*

Counter-evidence Indicators

*actually*	*despite*	*admittedly*	*except*
*even though*	*nonetheless*	*nevertheless*	*although*
*however*	*In spite of*	do	*may*

4. Before you pick up the answer choices, make sure you did NOT mistake counter-evidence as evidence.

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