A 4 min read

Read this passage and answer – is the author merely describing a scientific debate or is the author taking a side. If you get this right, also try the two practice questions at the end. 

Your answer could make or break your GMAT score.

The traditional view of dinosaurs as cold-blooded reptiles has long dominated paleontological discourse. However, recent studies have challenged this perspective, suggesting that many dinosaur species were warm-blooded. Critics of the cold-blooded theory correctly point out that the rapid growth rates and active lifestyles of many dinosaurs are inconsistent with ectothermic metabolism. Furthermore, the discovery of feathered dinosaurs lends credence to the notion that these creatures regulated their body temperature. The evidence supporting warm-blooded dinosaurs is compelling and rightfully shifts our understanding of these ancient beings.

The secret to conquering GMAT RC questions lies in decoding the author’s stance. It’s not just about understanding the content; it’s about grasping the author’s perspective on that content.

• In the dinosaur passage, phrases like “correctly point out” and “rightfully shifts” are subtle yet powerful indicators.
• These words reveal that the author isn’t just reporting on a debate – they’re actively supporting the warm-blooded dinosaur theory.

It is Official

Many times, test takers feel absolutely confident about their RC answers, only to discover that they have indeed misinterpreted the author’s stance, or worse, did not even care to bother about it. Let’s see how this negligence plays out in a hard official GMAT question. Consider this excerpt:

Defined as an aggregate measure of production equal to the sum of the gross values added of all resident institutional units engaged in production, plus and taxes, and minus any subsidies, on products not included in the value of their outputs, GDP is a basic standard to measure the standard of living in a country and in turn the economic well-being of the population. However, critics are of the opinion that national GDP figures do not reveal significant regional variations in output, employment and incomes per head of population. They justly contend that within each region there are areas of relative prosperity contrasting with unemployment black-spots and deep-rooted social and economic deprivation and that GDP figures on their own do not represent the distribution of income and the uneven spread of financial wealth. The idea that rising national prosperity can still be accompanied by rising relative poverty is rightly at the heart of the criticism meted out for using GDP as a measure of the general well-being of the population of a region…

Now, attempt this question based on this official passage:

The author is primarily concerned with

A. defining a concept while presenting two sides of an argument
B. presenting the merits and demerits of a phenomenon
C. describing the criticism meted out to the use of a parameter for a specific purpose
D. criticizing a particular usage of a concept
E. evaluating a phenomenon on the basis of certain unconventional, non-economic parameters

• If you selected Choice C as the correct answer for this question, then you made the same mistake as the majority of test-takers.
• In this passage
  • The author is NOT merely describing criticism of the use of the GDP.
  • The author is actually hand in glove with the critics when they point out several shortcomings of the usage of the GDP.
• How do we know that?
  • The author makes it very clear in the passage by explicitly using such expressions as “justly contend” and “rightly at the heart” in the first and the second paragraphs, respectively.
  • These expressions make it crystal clear that the author participates in criticizing.
• Hence, the correct answer to this question is Choice D.

Takeaways

1. Do not ever lose the trail of the author. Make sure that you understand the stance of the author. Then only you will be able to answer questions correctly.
2. Actively look out for keywords that will help you understand that author’s stance. The following are examples of such keywords:
   1. justly, rightly, correctly, legitimately (when in agreement)
   2. however, nonetheless, on the contrary, conversely (when not in agreement)

Do you want to know more about such keywords that help you understand the author’s stance? Please read this article, which explains in detail how the author explicitly provides certain keywords to guide the readers to his trail.  

Cement your learning

Now try your hand at two practice questions:

Practice question 1

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has sparked intense debate. Proponents argue that AI can revolutionize diagnosis and treatment, potentially saving countless lives. They point to AI’s ability to process vast amounts of medical data quickly and accurately, often outperforming human doctors in specific tasks. Critics, however, raise valid concerns about privacy, the potential for bias in AI algorithms, and the risk of over-reliance on technology in medical decision-making. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of AI in healthcare are too significant to ignore. If carefully implemented, AI could transform patient care and medical research, ushering in a new era of precision medicine.

The primary purpose of this passage is to

A. evaluate the potential of AI in healthcare by weighing its revolutionary benefits against significant implementation challenges

B. advocate for the careful integration of AI in healthcare despite acknowledged challenges

Practice question 2

Neuroplasticity has become a prominent concept in neuroscience, challenging the idea that the brain’s structure is fixed after early childhood. Proponents argue that the brain can form new neural connections throughout life, citing studies showing structural changes in brains after intensive learning or injury recovery. However, skeptics caution against overstating this capacity, noting that neuroplasticity decreases with age and some neural pathways resist change. They warn that popular interpretations may oversimplify complex neurological processes, leading to unrealistic expectations. Nonetheless, this debate has driven further research into brain plasticity’s mechanisms and limitations, enhancing our understanding of cognitive development and potential therapies for neurological disorders.

What is the author’s stance in this passage?

A.    Agrees with proponents.

B.    Agrees with critics.

C.    Disagrees with proponents.

D.    Disagrees with critics.

E.     Neutral