Introduction
Can you spot the trap that ensnares countless GMAT test-takers in Reading Comprehension inference questions? It lies in the subtle but crucial difference between these two seemingly identical statements:
At first glance, both statements appear to convey the same message. Yet one allows for a valid inference about the author’s view on global warming solutions, while the other is a classic GMAT trap. Which one would you choose?
The answer lies in Statement 1. Why? Because that’s where the author directly commits to the idea. When an author states ‘Efforts from economically stable nations together will mitigate the global warming issues,’ they are taking a clear stance. From this, we can infer that the author believes in the capability of economically stable nations to address climate change.
However, in Statement 2, the seemingly innocent phrase ‘It is believed that’ creates a critical distance between the author and the idea. The author is merely reporting what others believe, not necessarily endorsing this view themselves. We cannot infer the author’s personal stance on the matter from such distanced language. This distinction cuts to the heart of GMAT inference questions.
Official Example
Read this official passage and answer the question:
Passage
Native American women of the Greater American Southwest understood ceramic technology long before they began manufacturing ceramic containers. Ceramic containers appeared over a millennium after the introduction of agriculture among southwestern Native American groups that had previously relied solely upon foraging, and approximately eight hundred years after the archaeological record indicates ceramic figurines first appeared in the region. To explain this lag, anthropologist James Brown proposed that the manufacture of ceramic containers began as these groups became increasingly sedentary and more reliant upon agriculture and developed greater need for storage containers. He argued further that since pottery making fit easily into women’s schedules, the labor of making containers had negligible costs. Subsequent research has shown that pottery making exacerbated the scheduling problems of women, whose child-care responsibilities, foraging activities, and other contributions to subsistence were already greater than during the preceramic period. Other evidence, however, does seem to support Brown’s argument that increased need for containers was important to the inception of pottery making. Pottery containers provided a means of storing and cooking food that enhanced the nutritional yield of a given crop. As southwestern populations became more reliant on agriculture for subsistence, they had to increase their crops’ nutritional yield, since low population densities impeded expansion of field systems.
Question
The passage supports which of the following inferences regarding ceramic technology?
A. Ceramic technology was developed among Native American groups of the Southwest around the time of the introduction of agriculture.
B. It is difficult to date the inception of ceramic technology among Native American groups of the Southwest by means of the archaeological record.
C. Ceramic technology was closely guarded knowledge belonging to specialized groups of artisans within the larger communities of Native Americans of the Southwest.
D. Ceramic technology was first used by Native Americans of the Southwest to make objects other than vessels following the introduction of agriculture.
E. The development of ceramic technology was prompted by certain developments in agricultural technology.
Analysis
The correct answer for this question is Choice D. However, take a look at the following stats:
Why do so many people falter?
Why does the wrong answer Choice E trap 36% of test-takers? Because it seems logically reasonable. The passage discusses how pottery became useful for agricultural societies – storing food, cooking, and enhancing nutritional yield. It even presents Brown’s argument about ceramic containers being needed as groups became more agricultural. If we’re using our general reasoning rather than focusing on the author’s explicit statements, this answer seems plausible.
However, the author’s chronology directly contradicts this inference. The passage clearly states: Ceramic containers appeared over a millennium after the introduction of agriculture… and approximately eight hundred years after the archaeological record indicates ceramic figurines first appeared. The author is explicitly telling us that ceramic technology (in the form of figurines) preceded many agricultural developments.
Valid Inference
Choice D perfectly aligns with the author’s statement. We don’t need to make logical leaps or rely on what seems reasonable. We simply need to follow the chronology the author provides: agriculture came first, then ceramic figurines appeared, and much later, ceramic containers were developed.
The key lesson? Don’t be tempted by answers that seem logically sound but aren’t supported by the author’s explicit statements. In GMAT inference questions, the correct answer will always be something the author has committed to saying, either directly or through clear implication from their statements.
Takeaways
- The Author’s Voice is Your North Star: Always ground your inference in what the author explicitly states or clearly implies.
- Watch for Distancing Language: Expressions such as it is believed, some say, considered, reportedly, etc., signal that the author isn’t committing to an idea.
- Test Your Inference: Before selecting an answer, ask yourself: Can I point to specific words or statements from the author that support this inference?
Ready to apply your new knowledge? Put it to the test with two practice questions where identifying the author’s commitment is key!
Practice Question 1
Passage
Urban farming initiatives have gained momentum in recent decades, with advocates claiming these projects could significantly address food security in metropolitan areas. While studies demonstrate that urban farms can provide up to 15% of a city’s vegetable needs, Dr. Sarah Chen’s recent research indicates that successful urban farming projects require substantial initial investment in infrastructure and training. Her analysis of 50 urban farming projects reveals that those receiving over $100,000 in startup funding were three times more likely to achieve sustainability within five years. However, she justly acknowledges that once established, these farms operate at lower costs than traditional rural farming operations due to reduced transportation expenses.
Question
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the passage?
A. Urban farming projects that receive less than $100,000 in startup funding are unlikely to succeed in addressing food security issues.
B. The operational cost advantage of urban farms over rural farms stems primarily from their proximity to consumers.
C. Dr. Chen’s research proves that urban farming is a more viable solution to food security than traditional farming methods.
Practice Question 2
Passage
Recent studies of artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics have yielded mixed results. While AI systems consistently match human radiologists in detecting common conditions like pneumonia, their performance drops significantly when analyzing rare diseases. Dr. Martinez’s landmark study found that AI systems flagged 40% more potential abnormalities than human doctors did, leading to unnecessary follow-up procedures. Interestingly, when AI and human diagnosticians worked in tandem, the false positive rate decreased by 60% compared to AI-only diagnoses, while maintaining a higher detection rate than human-only diagnoses. However, hospitals report that implementing AI systems requires extensive retraining of medical staff, with smaller facilities struggling to justify the investment despite potential long-term benefits.
Question
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. AI systems are currently more precise than human diagnosticians in ensuring comprehensive patient screening and early detection of potential conditions.
B. Smaller hospitals would benefit more from investing in staff training than in AI diagnostic systems.
C. The combination of human expertise and AI technology produces more reliable diagnostic results than either approach used independently.
D. The accuracy of AI diagnostic systems will improve as they analyze more cases of rare diseases.
E. Medical facilities that invest in AI systems eventually recover their costs through improved diagnostic efficiency.
