Letter to the editor

[akhp77]

Source: MGMAT CAT

Letter to the editor: The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax, a levy imposed on the transfer of property of the estate of a deceased person to a living person or organization. The primary argument in favor of the estate tax is that it is a necessary component of a system of progressive taxation. Not only is this argument faulty, but the estate tax is also lousy for the economy. Primarily, the estate tax directly penalizes savings and investment, two activities that are vital to create and sustain jobs. Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.

In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?

A: The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.
B: The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.
C: The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.
D: The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.
E: The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.

OA: D

I could not understand it. Why conclusion and why position?
Boldface problem generally gives me pain.

Can you please explain me in detail?

[RonPurewal]

first, "conclusion" and "position" are basically the same thing -- there is no functional difference between these terms (at least no difference significant enough to matter on the test).

could you please ask a more specific question?
i.e., have you checked out the explanation in the answer key? if so, which parts of that explanation did you understand, and which parts did you have trouble understanding?
if you don't ask a more specific question, we will basically just wind up reiterating the solution that is already in the answer key.

thanks!

[jahnavi_p]

Ron,

I am confused between C and D. I picked C thinking that the conclusion of the author's argument is that ' The estate tax should not be kept' and for this, the first bold statement would have to be in contrast to the conclusion. I guess I misinterpreted the statements somewhere. Can you please throw some light on a situation when you are stuck between 2 such choices and really confused on which one to pick?

Thanks

[nehajadoo]

Hi Jahnavi,

C states that the first boldface is an assumption. That seems incorrect, it is actually the conclusion made by the senate that it is important for progressive taxation. however, the author is opposed to this conclusion/stand of the senate and gives his reasoning why in the other boldface

[tim]

Jahnavi, the approach for when you are stuck between two choices is to figure out what you’re doing wrong, because the GMAT won’t present you with close calls. Take a closer look at the meanings of the choices and the argument to see what you might have missed..