Business Consultant: Some corporations shun the use of executive titles because they fear that the use of titles indicating position...
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Business Consultant: Some corporations shun the use of executive titles because they fear that the use of titles indicating position in the corporation tends to inhibit communication up and down the corporate hierarchy. Since an executive who uses a title is treated with more respect by outsiders, however, use of a title can facilitate an executive's dealings with external businesses. The obvious compromise is for these executives to use their corporate titles externally but not internally, since even if it is widely known that the corporation's executives use executive titles outside their organization, this knowledge does not by itself inhibit communication within the corporation.
In the consultant's reasoning, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Understanding the Passage
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| "Some corporations shun the use of executive titles because they fear that" |
|
| (Boldface 1) "the use of titles indicating position in the corporation tends to inhibit communication up and down the corporate hierarchy" |
|
| "Since an executive who uses a title is treated with more respect by outsiders, however," |
|
| (Boldface 2) "use of a title can facilitate an executive's dealings with external businesses" |
|
| "The obvious compromise is for these executives to use their corporate titles externally but not internally" |
|
| "since even if it is widely known that the corporation's executives use executive titles outside their organization, this knowledge does not by itself inhibit communication within the corporation" |
|
Overall Structure
The author is presenting a balanced analysis of a business problem and proposing a compromise solution. The flow moves from problem → counterpoint → solution → justification.
Main Conclusion: Executives should use their corporate titles externally but not internally as a compromise solution.
Boldface Segments
- Boldface 1: the use of titles indicating position in the corporation tends to inhibit communication up and down the corporate hierarchy
- Boldface 2: use of a title can facilitate an executive's dealings with external businesses
Boldface Understanding
Boldface 1:
- Function: Explains the specific concern that leads some corporations to avoid executive titles
- Direction: This represents a problem that the author's conclusion aims to solve, so it opposes unlimited use of titles but supports the need for the author's compromise solution
Boldface 2:
- Function: Provides the counterbalancing benefit of using titles that must be preserved in any solution
- Direction: This represents a benefit that the author's conclusion aims to preserve, so it supports the author's ultimate position that titles should be used externally
Structural Classification
Boldface 1:
- Structural Role: Supporting reason for a position that the author acknowledges but seeks to address through compromise
- Predicted Answer Patterns: "concern that leads to" "problem that the conclusion addresses" "consideration balanced in the recommendation"
Boldface 2:
- Structural Role: Supporting evidence for the benefit that the author's conclusion aims to capture
- Predicted Answer Patterns: "consideration supporting" "advantage preserved by" "benefit that supports the conclusion"
'The first presents an obstacle to achieving a certain goal' - ✗ WRONG - The first boldface isn't about achieving a goal; it explains why corporations avoid using titles. It's describing a problem, not an obstacle to a goal.
'the second presents a reason for considering that goal to be undesirable' - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface doesn't make any goal undesirable; it presents a benefit of using titles that supports external business dealings.
'The first is a consideration that has led to the adoption of a certain strategy' - ✓ CORRECT - The fear that titles inhibit communication is exactly the consideration that led corporations to adopt the strategy of shunning executive titles.
'the second presents a reason against adopting that strategy' - ✓ CORRECT - The fact that titles facilitate external business dealings is a compelling reason against completely avoiding the use of titles.
'The first describes a concern that the consultant dismisses as insignificant' - ✗ WRONG - The consultant doesn't dismiss the communication concern as insignificant; instead, the compromise solution specifically addresses this concern by avoiding internal title use.
'the second is a consideration that serves as the basis for that dismissal' - ✗ WRONG - Since the consultant doesn't dismiss the first concern, the second can't be the basis for a dismissal that didn't happen.
'The first is a belief for which the consultant offers support' - ✗ WRONG - The consultant doesn't offer support for the first boldface; it's presented as the corporations' concern, not something the consultant is arguing for.
'the second is part of that support' - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface actually works against the first, not in support of it, since it presents a benefit of using titles.
'The first is a belief against which evidence is offered' - ✗ WRONG - No evidence is offered against the belief that titles inhibit internal communication; the consultant accepts this as valid and works around it with the compromise.
'the second is part of the evidence offered against that belief' - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface isn't evidence against the first; it's a separate consideration about external benefits of titles.