An online newspaper, Newspaper X, will hire exactly one new columnist: Candidate A or Candidate B. Both columnists currently write...
GMAT Two Part Analysis : (TPA) Questions
An online newspaper, Newspaper X, will hire exactly one new columnist: Candidate A or Candidate B. Both columnists currently write for Newspaper Y. The newspaper's final hiring decision will be based exclusively on three factors: (1) a rating of the influence of the respective columnists; (2) a per-column average of the number of hits on the candidates' columns (number of times the columnists' columns have been opened) via the website of Newspaper Y (65,249 for Candidate A and 93,847 for Candidate B); and (3) a per-column average of the number of hits on the candidates' columns via other websites, including Internet search engines and news aggregators (142,834 for Candidate A and 113,742 for Candidate B). Both of the candidates were rated as "very influential." It was assumed that each candidate would have roughly the same number of hits on Newspaper X as on Newspaper Y.
Based on the information provided, select the statement that, if true, would most strongly suggest that the newspaper will hire Candidate A. And select the statement that, if true, would most strongly suggest that the newspaper will hire Candidate B. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Phase 1: Owning the Dataset
Argument Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| "An online newspaper, Newspaper X, will hire exactly one new columnist: Candidate A or Candidate B." |
|
| "The newspaper's final hiring decision will be based exclusively on three factors" |
|
| "(1) a rating of the influence of the respective columnists" |
|
| "(2) a per-column average of the number of hits... via the website of Newspaper Y (65,249 for Candidate A and 93,847 for Candidate B)" |
|
| "(3) a per-column average of the number of hits... via other websites... (142,834 for Candidate A and 113,742 for Candidate B)" |
|
Argument Structure
- Main conclusion: Newspaper X will hire either A or B based on three factors
- Supporting evidence: Specific performance metrics for each candidate
- Key assumption: Each candidate would have roughly the same hits on Newspaper X as on Newspaper Y
- Overall logical flow: Decision depends on which factors the newspaper values most
Phase 2: Question Analysis & Prethinking
Understanding What Each Part Asks
- Part 1: Which statement would most strongly suggest hiring Candidate A?
- Part 2: Which statement would most strongly suggest hiring Candidate B?
- Relationship: We need to find which valuation preferences would tip the scales toward each candidate
Prethinking Based on Question Type
This is asking for strengtheners - what would make each hiring decision more likely?
Specific Prethinking for Each Part
For Part 1 (Candidate A):
- Since both have equal influence, A's advantage is in hits via other websites (142,834 vs 113,742)
- A statement valuing external website hits over internal website hits would favor A
For Part 2 (Candidate B):
- Since both have equal influence, B's advantage is in hits via Newspaper Y website (93,847 vs 65,249)
- A statement valuing internal website hits over external website hits would favor B
Phase 3: Answer Choice Evaluation
Evaluating Each Choice
Choice 1: "The newspaper values the influence of its columns more than hits on them via the newspaper's website."
- Simple terms: Influence matters more than internal website hits
- For Part 1 (A): Doesn't help - both have equal influence
- For Part 2 (B): Doesn't help - both have equal influence
Choice 2: "The newspaper values the influence of its columns more than hits on them via other websites."
- Simple terms: Influence matters more than external website hits
- For Part 1 (A): Doesn't help - both have equal influence
- For Part 2 (B): Doesn't help - both have equal influence
Choice 3: "The newspaper values hits on its columns via its website more than hits on its columns via other websites."
- Simple terms: Internal website hits matter more than external hits
- For Part 1 (A): Weakens A's case (A is weaker on internal hits)
- For Part 2 (B): Strongly supports B (B excels at internal hits: 93,847 vs 65,249)
Choice 4: "The newspaper values hits on its columns via its website more than the influence of its columns."
- Simple terms: Internal website hits matter more than influence
- For Part 1 (A): Weakens A's case
- For Part 2 (B): Supports B, but less directly than Choice 3
Choice 5: "The newspaper values hits on its columns via other websites more than hits on its columns via its own website."
- Simple terms: External website hits matter more than internal hits
- For Part 1 (A): Strongly supports A (A excels at external hits: 142,834 vs 113,742)
- For Part 2 (B): Weakens B's case
The Correct Answers
- For Part 1 (Candidate A): Choice 5 - This directly emphasizes A's strongest metric
- For Part 2 (Candidate B): Choice 3 - This directly emphasizes B's strongest metric
Common Traps to Highlight
Choices 1 and 2 might seem relevant because they mention influence, but since both candidates have equal influence ratings, these choices don't differentiate between them.
Choice 4 might seem good for Part 2, but it's less direct than Choice 3. While it does favor B by emphasizing website hits, it unnecessarily brings influence into the comparison when Choice 3 makes the same point more cleanly by directly comparing the two types of hits.