RC Doubts: Supporting Idea Vs. Inference

[supratim7]

RC Doubts: Supporting Idea Vs. Inference

Passage: Present bank strategies deal with the debt crisis affecting many developing countries by extending the maturation period of loans given to those countries. Any methods that reduces the flow of resources from debtor countries will help the debt crisis.

1) According to the passage, does the author identify following as contributing to the current debt crisis?
A) unwillingness of banks to extend the maturation periods of loans

2) Does the author suggest that following would contribute to the current debt crisis?
A) unwillingness of banks to extend the maturation periods of loan

As I understand,

(1) is a "Supporting Idea" question and the answer is NO.

Reason: In the passage, the author identifies that WILLINGNESS of banks to extend the maturation periods of loans helps, but there is no mention of "UNWILLINGNESS of banks" and effects thereof.

(2) is an "Inference" question and the answer is YES.

Reason: In the passage, the author identifies that WILLINGNESS of banks to extend the maturation periods of loans helps debt crisis.

IF "willingness for extension" THEN "helps debt crisis"
IF "doesn't help debt crisis" THEN "no willingness for extension" i.e. IF "contributes to the debt crisis" THEN "unwillingness for extension"

Are my concepts/reasoning/fundamentals OK here??

Many thanks | Supratim

[RonPurewal]

RC Doubts: Supporting Idea Vs. Inference

Passage: Present bank strategies deal with the debt crisis affecting many developing countries by extending the maturation period of loans given to those countries. Any methods that reduces the flow of resources from debtor countries will help the debt crisis.

1) According to the passage, does the author identify following as contributing to the current debt crisis?
A) unwillingness of banks to extend the maturation periods of loans

2) Does the author suggest that following would contribute to the current debt crisis?
A) unwillingness of banks to extend the maturation periods of loan

As I understand,

(1) is a "Supporting Idea" question and the answer is NO.

Reason: In the passage, the author identifies that WILLINGNESS of banks to extend the maturation periods of loans helps, but there is no mention of "UNWILLINGNESS of banks" and effects thereof.

(2) is an "Inference" question and the answer is YES.

Reason: In the passage, the author identifies that WILLINGNESS of banks to extend the maturation periods of loans helps debt crisis.

IF "willingness for extension" THEN "helps debt crisis"
IF "doesn't help debt crisis" THEN "no willingness for extension" i.e. IF "contributes to the debt crisis" THEN "unwillingness for extension"

Are my concepts/reasoning/fundamentals OK here??

Many thanks | Supratim

Hey,

The wording here is problematic; i.e., the prompt itself is badly written and rather hard to understand"”it looks to have been written by someone with a questionable command of English"”so that's going to color the discussion. But I'll respond to what I think you're asking here.

What I think is going on here"”correct me if I'm wrong, please"”is this:

Prompt/
The passage says that an extension of the maturation period, if it is offered, can help to alleviate the debt crisis.
(This is one area where the wording is a problem. "Help the debt crisis" doesn't have a clear meaning: does it help to get rid of the crisis? or does it amplify the crisis?)

1/
This question seems to be asking whether "an unwillingness to..." IS A CURRENT FACTOR in the crisis.
If that's the case, then, no, that idea is not supported; the passage only describes a possible strategy, not whether banks are willing or unwilling to exercise that strategy.

2/
This question seems to be asking whether "an unwillingness to..." WOULD, THEORETICALLY, exacerbate the crisis if it were to happen.
In that case, yes, since that's a corollary of what is stated in the argument.

--

Here's my take on this stuff:
Your primary goal should just be to understand the task in front of you, NOT to "classify" the questions.
I.e., if you understand the distinction I just made above ("Which of the following IS A CURRENT FACTOR?" vs. "Which of the following WOULD BE a factor IF it were to happen?"), then there's no reason to classify the problem any further"”you already get it. You already know exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

In fact, that should be your attitude toward all of CR and RC as a whole. Classifying questions is only a reserve tactic, for use if and when you're confused or lost. If you get it, then you should just solve the problem and move on.

[supratim7]

Hello Ron,
Thank you so much for the prompt reply.

But I'll respond to what I think you're asking here.

Yes, this is exactly what I was asking.

What I think is going on here"”correct me if I'm wrong, please"”is this:

Prompt/
The passage says that an extension of the maturation period, if it is offered, can help to alleviate the debt crisis.
(This is one area where the wording is a problem. "Help the debt crisis" doesn't have a clear meaning: does it help to get rid of the crisis? or does it amplify the crisis?)

1/
This question seems to be asking whether "an unwillingness to..." IS A CURRENT FACTOR in the crisis.
If that's the case, then, no, that idea is not supported; the passage only describes a possible strategy, not whether banks are willing or unwilling to exercise that strategy.

2/
This question seems to be asking whether "an unwillingness to..." WOULD, THEORETICALLY, exacerbate the crisis if it were to happen.
In that case, yes, since that's a corollary of what is stated in the argument.

Clear and precise explanation; appreciate it!

Here's my take on this stuff:
Your primary goal should just be to understand the task in front of you, NOT to "classify" the questions.
I.e., if you understand the distinction I just made above ("Which of the following IS A CURRENT FACTOR?" vs. "Which of the following WOULD BE a factor IF it were to happen?"), then there's no reason to classify the problem any further"”you already get it. You already know exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

In fact, that should be your attitude toward all of CR and RC as a whole. Classifying questions is only a reserve tactic, for use if and when you're confused or lost. If you get it, then you should just solve the problem and move on.

I get it. Very helpful insight.
Love the way you direct us toward the "right, fundamental attitude" one ought to have in order to learn/solve various Q/V topics/questions.

Thanks a bunch | Supratim

[jlucero]

Glad it was helpful.