Newspaper editor: Published photojournalism must always present the events covered without distorting those events. Sometimes an image distorts the ev...

GMAT Two Part Analysis : (TPA) Questions

Source: Official Guide

Two Part Analysis

Verbal - RC

HARD

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Notes

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Newspaper editor: Published photojournalism must always present the events covered without distorting those events. Sometimes an image distorts the events a photojournalist attempts to capture, such as when the photojournalist has an equipment failure. In such cases, photojournalists are permitted to make minimal changes to an image, but only to the extent that (1) they are certain about what they observed, and (2) those changes reduce the distortion. Photojournalists' photos are often compelling works of art as well as documents of newsworthy events. However, for publication as journalism, a photo's aesthetic features are allowed to be considered only after the photo is shown to accurately portray relevant features of the event it depicts. In accordance with these criteria, in our journalistic coverage of Event E, we elected to publish photograph P1 rather than photograph P2.

Statement: Assuming the editor's statements are true, if 1_ , then it must be the case that 2_ . Select for 1 and for 2 the two different options that create the statement that is most strongly supported by the information provided. Make only two selections, one in each column.

P1 was altered

P2 was altered

P1 and P2 were taken with malfunctioning equipment

P1 was chosen over P2 at least in part for its aesthetic features

both P1 and P2 accurately portray the relevant features of Event E

Solution

Phase 1: Owning the Dataset

Argument Analysis Table

Passage Statement	Analysis & Implications
"Published photojournalism must always present the events covered without distorting those events"	Core Fact: Accuracy is the primary requirement Visualization: Think of a photo that shows exactly what happened Logical Connections: Sets the fundamental standard What We Can Conclude: Any published photo must meet this standard
"Sometimes an image distorts... photojournalists are permitted to make minimal changes... only to the extent that (1) they are certain about what they observed, and (2) those changes reduce the distortion"	Core Fact: Alterations allowed ONLY to reduce distortion Visualization: Fixing a blurry image to match what was actually seen Logical Connections: Alterations = evidence of initial distortion What We Can Conclude: If altered, must have had distortion initially
"for publication as journalism, a photo's aesthetic features are allowed to be considered only after the photo is shown to accurately portray relevant features"	Core Fact: Accuracy BEFORE aesthetics Visualization: Like a two-step filter - accuracy check first, then beauty Logical Connections: Aesthetics can't be considered unless accuracy established What We Can Conclude: If aesthetics influenced choice, accuracy was already confirmed
"we elected to publish photograph P1 rather than photograph P2"	Core Fact: P1 chosen over P2 Visualization: Editor looking at two photos and picking P1 Logical Connections: Choice made according to stated criteria What We Can Conclude: P1 better met the criteria than P2

Key Patterns Identified

Sequential requirement: Accuracy must be established before aesthetics can be considered
Alteration rule: Alterations only allowed to reduce existing distortion
Choice implication: P1 was selected following the stated criteria

Phase 2: Question Analysis & Prethinking

Understanding the Two Parts

We need to create an if-then statement where:

Part 1: Sets up a condition
Part 2: States what must follow from that condition
Relationship: Part 2 must be a necessary consequence of Part 1

Valid Inferences Generated

If aesthetics were considered in choosing P1, then both photos must have been accurate (because aesthetics can only be considered after accuracy)
If a photo was altered, then it initially had distortion (because alterations are only allowed to reduce distortion)
If P1 was chosen, it must have met the criteria better than P2 (given the editor follows stated rules)

Phase 3: Answer Choice Evaluation

Analyzing Each Option

"P1 was altered"

Claims: P1 underwent changes
Implication: P1 initially had distortion

"P2 was altered"

Claims: P2 underwent changes
Implication: P2 initially had distortion

"P1 and P2 were taken with malfunctioning equipment"

Claims: Both had equipment issues
Too specific - alterations could happen for equipment failure, but not necessarily both

"P1 was chosen over P2 at least in part for its aesthetic features"

Claims: Aesthetics influenced the P1 selection
Key insight: This can only happen if accuracy was already established!

"both P1 and P2 accurately portray the relevant features of Event E"

Claims: Both photos are accurate
Could be a necessary conclusion in certain scenarios

Answer Selection Process

Let's test the strongest if-then relationship:

If "P1 was chosen over P2 at least in part for its aesthetic features" (Part 1)
Then "both P1 and P2 accurately portray the relevant features of Event E" (Part 2)

This works because:

The passage states aesthetics can ONLY be considered after accuracy is established
If aesthetics influenced the choice between P1 and P2, both must have passed the accuracy test
Otherwise, aesthetics couldn't have been considered at all

Verification

Part 1: Sets up a scenario where aesthetics mattered
Part 2: Must be true because aesthetics can only be considered after both photos are deemed accurate
Logic: Airtight - follows directly from the stated rules

Final Answer

Part 1: P1 was chosen over P2 at least in part for its aesthetic features
Part 2: both P1 and P2 accurately portray the relevant features of Event E

This creates the most strongly supported if-then statement based on the editor's criteria.

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