Securing digital information is an essential component of modern corporate operations. The largest security risks generally arise from individual empl...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
Securing digital information is an essential component of modern corporate operations. The largest security risks generally arise from individual employees not having good personal security habits, but there are also large-scale risks arising from easily correctable vulnerabilities in commonly used operating systems (OSS) or other software, and these vulnerabilities are known by at least some companies or governments. But if these vulnerabilities are known and easily correctable, why do they remain such a high risk? There are two primary reasons.
First, many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities. When a vulnerability is discovered, the company or government often has a vested interest in not reporting the vulnerability to the software company. By not reporting the vulnerability, a government or company can use the vulnerability to gain a strategic advantage-by exploiting the vulnerability itself or protecting its own systems while competitors' systems are attacked.
Second, even if software companies are aware of the vulnerability and provide a free update to address the vulnerability, many companies and governments remain vulnerable. For a variety of reasons, many persons and organizations do not take advantage of such updates. Updating software may be inconvenient at that time, or it may create a conflict with other essential software programs.
Given the information in the passage, which of the following statements is the author of the passage most likely to believe?
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Securing digital information is an essential component of modern corporate operations. | What it says: Companies need to protect their digital data What it does: Introduces the main topic - digital security in business Source/Type: Author's statement (presented as fact) Connection to Previous Sentences: This is the opening statement - no previous context Visualization: Think of this as: Every major corporation (Google, Microsoft, banks, hospitals) must protect their computer systems and data files What We Know So Far: Digital security is crucial for businesses What We Don't Know Yet: What specific risks exist, why they're problems, how to address them Reading Strategy Insight: This is a classic RC opening - broad, important statement that will be explained and supported in what follows |
| The largest security risks generally arise from individual employees not having good personal security habits, but there are also large-scale risks arising from easily correctable vulnerabilities in commonly used operating systems (OSS) or other software, and these vulnerabilities are known by at least some companies or governments. | What it says: Two main types of security risks: (1) employees with bad habits, (2) software flaws that could be fixed but are known to some organizations What it does: Provides the key categorization of security risks that will drive the rest of the passage Source/Type: Author's analysis/explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds directly on sentence 1 by explaining WHAT the security risks actually are. The author is answering the implied question: "What makes securing digital information so essential?" Visualization: Risk Type 1: Employee uses password "123456" or clicks malicious email links Risk Type 2: Microsoft Windows has a security flaw that Microsoft knows about, but so do hackers and governments What We Know So Far: - Digital security is crucial - Two main risk categories: employee behavior and software vulnerabilities What We Don't Know Yet: Why the software vulnerabilities remain unfixed if they're "easily correctable" Reading Strategy Insight: Notice the author sets up a puzzle here - if vulnerabilities are "easily correctable" and "known," why are they still risks? This signals the passage will explain this apparent contradiction. |
| But if these vulnerabilities are known and easily correctable, why do they remain such a high risk? | What it says: The author directly asks the logical follow-up question What it does: Explicitly states the central question the passage will answer Source/Type: Author's rhetorical question Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly restates the puzzle from sentence 2 in simple, clear terms. The author is helping us by making the contradiction explicit: known + easily correctable = should be fixed, but they remain high risk Visualization: It's like asking: "If we know there's a broken lock on the front door and we have the replacement part, why is our house still vulnerable to break-ins?" What We Know So Far: - Digital security crucial for business - Two risk types: employee habits and software vulnerabilities - Central puzzle: Why don't known, fixable vulnerabilities get fixed? What We Don't Know Yet: The answer to this question Reading Strategy Insight: Feel relieved here - this is simplification, not new complexity! The author is clearly organizing the passage around one main question. Everything that follows will answer this question. |
| There are two primary reasons. | What it says: The answer has exactly two parts What it does: Provides a roadmap for the explanation that follows Source/Type: Author's organizational statement Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly answers the question posed in sentence 3. The author is making our job easier by telling us exactly how the answer is structured. Visualization: Think: "Reason 1: [coming next]" and "Reason 2: [coming after that]" What We Know So Far: - Central question identified - Answer has exactly 2 parts What We Don't Know Yet: What those two reasons are Reading Strategy Insight: This is a gift from the author! Clear structure makes RC passages much easier to follow. Look for these organizational signals. |
| First, many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities. When a vulnerability is discovered, the company or government often has a vested interest in not reporting the vulnerability to the software company. By not reporting the vulnerability, a government or company can use the vulnerability to gain a strategic advantage-by exploiting the vulnerability itself or protecting its own systems while competitors' systems are attacked. | What it says: Reason 1: Organizations find vulnerabilities but deliberately don't report them because they want to use them for their own advantage What it does: Explains the first reason why known, fixable vulnerabilities remain unfixed Source/Type: Author's explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This delivers on the promise from sentence 4 - providing "Reason 1" for why the puzzle exists. This is exactly what we expected to see next. Visualization: - CIA discovers vulnerability in popular email software - Instead of telling the software company to fix it, CIA keeps it secret - CIA can now read competitors' emails while protecting their own systems - Meanwhile, everyone else remains vulnerable What We Know So Far: - Central question: Why don't known vulnerabilities get fixed? - Reason 1: Organizations keep them secret for strategic advantage What We Don't Know Yet: What Reason 2 is Reading Strategy Insight: The passage structure is unfolding exactly as promised. This reduces cognitive load - we can focus on understanding content rather than guessing structure. |
| Second, even if software companies are aware of the vulnerability and provide a free update to address the vulnerability, many companies and governments remain vulnerable. | What it says: Reason 2: Even when fixes are available for free, many organizations don't install them What it does: Introduces the second reason why vulnerabilities persist Source/Type: Author's explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This provides "Reason 2" as promised in sentence 4. Again, this is exactly what the structure told us to expect. Visualization: - Microsoft releases free security update for Windows - Many companies and government agencies don't install it - Those organizations remain vulnerable to attacks What We Know So Far: - Reason 1: Some hide vulnerabilities for advantage - Reason 2: Some don't install available fixes What We Don't Know Yet: Why organizations don't install free security updates Reading Strategy Insight: Notice how this creates a new mini-puzzle: if the fix is free and available, why don't people use it? Expect this to be explained next. |
| For a variety of reasons, many persons and organizations do not take advantage of such updates. Updating software may be inconvenient at that time, or it may create a conflict with other essential software programs. | What it says: People don't install security updates because: (1) bad timing/inconvenient, (2) might break other software What it does: Explains the sub-reasons within Reason 2 Source/Type: Author's explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This elaborates on the mini-puzzle created in the previous sentence. The author is completing the explanation by addressing the obvious follow-up question. Visualization: - IT manager thinks: "We'll install the security update next month when we're less busy" - Or: "Last time we updated, it broke our accounting software, so we'll skip this one" - Meanwhile, hackers exploit the unfixed vulnerability What We Know So Far - Complete Picture: Why known, fixable vulnerabilities remain risky: - Reason 1: Some organizations hide them for strategic advantage - Reason 2: Others don't install available fixes due to inconvenience or compatibility concerns Reading Strategy Insight: The passage has now fully answered its central question! We have a complete, logical explanation for the initial puzzle. This is a classic RC structure - pose question, provide systematic answer. |
2. Passage Summary:
Author's Purpose:
To explain why software security vulnerabilities remain dangerous even when they are known and easily fixable.
Summary of Passage Structure:
The author builds their explanation by systematically solving a puzzle:
- First, the author establishes that digital security is crucial for businesses and identifies two main types of security risks.
- Next, the author highlights a puzzling contradiction - some software vulnerabilities are both known and easily correctable, yet they remain high-risk threats.
- Then, the author poses this contradiction as a direct question and promises to provide two specific reasons as the answer.
- Finally, the author delivers both reasons: some organizations deliberately hide vulnerabilities to gain strategic advantages, while others simply fail to install available security updates due to inconvenience or compatibility concerns.
Main Point:
Known and fixable software security vulnerabilities persist as major threats because some organizations choose not to report them for competitive advantage, while others avoid installing available fixes due to timing or compatibility issues.
3. Question Analysis:
The question asks which statement the author would "most likely believe" based on the passage information. This is an inference question requiring us to determine what the author would logically support given their stated views.
Connecting to Our Passage Analysis:
From our analysis, we know that:
- The author states "many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities"
- The passage distinguishes between "operating systems (OSS) or other software" as sources of vulnerabilities
- The author's explanation for Reason 1 shows organizations actively searching for vulnerabilities across their software to gain strategic advantages
- The passage structure treats both OS and non-OS software as equally important sources of security risks
Prethinking:
The key phrase is "research all their software" - this indicates the author believes organizations examine both operating systems AND other software types. The author doesn't suggest any distinction in research priorities between OS and non-OS software. Since the passage treats vulnerabilities in "operating systems (OSS) or other software" as equivalent risks, and explicitly states organizations research "all their software," the author would logically believe that comprehensive research covers both categories.
Why It's Wrong:
• The passage states organizations "research all their software," not just OSS
• Creates an artificial limitation that contradicts the author's comprehensive approach
• Ignores that "other software" vulnerabilities are equally emphasized as security risks
Common Student Mistakes:
1. Did you focus too much on the "OSS" abbreviation and think it was more important?
→ The passage treats OS and other software as equally significant vulnerability sources
1. Did you assume research priorities based on which was mentioned first?
→ Order of mention doesn't indicate research preferences in this context
Why It's Wrong:
• Makes claims about vulnerability similarities that aren't discussed in the passage
• The author focuses on why vulnerabilities persist, not on comparing vulnerability types
• Introduces content about "first identified" that has no basis in the passage
Common Student Mistakes:
1. Did you try to infer technical details not provided in the passage?
→ Stick to what the author actually discusses - research practices and strategic decisions
1. Were you looking for complex technical relationships?
→ This passage is about organizational behavior, not technical vulnerability analysis
Why It's Wrong:
• Directly contradicts the passage statement about researching "all their software"
• Creates an arbitrary preference for non-OS software that isn't supported
• Reverses the comprehensive approach the author describes
Common Student Mistakes:
1. Did you think "other software" was emphasized more because it was mentioned last?
→ The author uses "or" to show both are important, not to indicate priority
1. Were you trying to find a contrarian answer that seemed less obvious?
→ In inference questions, follow the logical flow rather than seeking surprising answers
Why It's Wrong:
• Again focuses on technical vulnerability similarities not addressed in the passage
• Misses the author's actual focus on research practices and strategic decision-making
• Introduces "first identified" concept that has no textual support
Common Student Mistakes:
1. Did the technical-sounding content make this seem more sophisticated?
→ Sophistication in wrong direction - the passage is about organizational behavior
1. Were you overthinking the relationship between software types?
→ The author treats them as parallel examples, not as technically related categories
Why It's Right:
• Directly supported by "many governments and companies research all their software"
• Aligns with the passage's treatment of both OS and other software as important vulnerability sources
• Consistent with the comprehensive approach to security the author describes
• Matches the first part of Reason 1's explanation about organizational research practices
Key Evidence: "First, many governments and companies research all their software in order to identify vulnerabilities."