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
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.
Phase 1: Owning the Dataset
Argument Analysis Table
| Passage Statement | Analysis & Implications |
|---|---|
| "Published photojournalism must always present the events covered without distorting those events" |
|
| "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" |
|
| "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" |
|
| "we elected to publish photograph P1 rather than photograph 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.