The play La Finestrina, written and first produced in Italy in the eighteenth century, is now being performed at the...
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Source: Mock
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The play La Finestrina, written and first produced in Italy in the eighteenth century, is now being performed at the central theatre. A reviewer has claimed that the current production is unfaithful to the original production. Yet, in important respects, this claim is inaccurate. After all, the set and costume designs for the current production were based on production notes and sketches from the original. Moreover, although the reviewer accurately observed that the actor who plays Harlequin the clown gives a performance highly reminiscent of the twentieth-century American actor Groucho Marx, it is worth pointing out that many comic performances by Groucho Marx are highly reminiscent of the traditional comic acting style in Italy in the eighteenth century.
In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?
Solution
Understanding the Passage
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| "The play La Finestrina, written and first produced in Italy in the eighteenth century, is now being performed at the central theatre." |
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| "A reviewer has claimed that the current production is unfaithful to the original production." |
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| "Yet, in important respects, this claim is inaccurate." |
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| "After all, the set and costume designs for the current production were based on production notes and sketches from the original." |
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| "Moreover, although the reviewer accurately observed that" |
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| (Boldface 1) "the actor who plays Harlequin the clown gives a performance highly reminiscent of the twentieth-century American actor Groucho Marx," |
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| "it is worth pointing out that" |
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| (Boldface 2) "many comic performances by Groucho Marx are highly reminiscent of the traditional comic acting style in Italy in the eighteenth century." |
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Overall Structure
The author is defending a theater production against criticism by showing that apparent unfaithfulness is actually authentic. The logic flows: reviewer claims unfaithfulness → author disagrees → provides evidence of faithfulness → acknowledges seeming unfaithfulness → reveals why that apparent unfaithfulness is actually authentic.
Main Conclusion: The reviewer's claim that the current production is unfaithful to the original is inaccurate.
Boldface Segments
- Boldface 1: the actor who plays Harlequin the clown gives a performance highly reminiscent of the twentieth-century American actor Groucho Marx
- Boldface 2: many comic performances by Groucho Marx are highly reminiscent of the traditional comic acting style in Italy in the eighteenth century
Boldface Understanding
Boldface 1:
- Function: Acknowledges the reviewer's accurate observation that appears to support the claim of unfaithfulness
- Direction: Initially seems to oppose the author's conclusion (supports idea of unfaithfulness), but sets up for the author's counter-argument
Boldface 2:
- Function: Provides the key evidence that transforms the apparent unfaithfulness into actual faithfulness
- Direction: Supports the author's conclusion by showing the connection between Marx's style and original Italian tradition
Structural Classification
Boldface 1:
- Structural Role: Acknowledged counterevidence/concession that initially appears to weaken the author's position
- Predicted Answer Patterns: "evidence that appears to support the opposing view," "a concession that seems to undermine the author's position"
Boldface 2:
- Structural Role: Key supporting evidence that resolves the apparent contradiction and supports the main conclusion
- Predicted Answer Patterns: "evidence that supports the author's conclusion," "information that explains why the apparent counterevidence actually supports the author's view"
Answer Choices Explained
A
The first is an observation that has been advanced to support a position that the argument opposes; the second provides the information to undermine the force of that observation.
"The first is an observation that has been advanced to support a position that the argument opposes" - ✓ CORRECT - The first boldface is the reviewer's observation about the Marx-like performance, which the reviewer used to support their claim that the production is unfaithful (the position the author opposes) "the second provides the information to undermine the force of that observation" - ✓ CORRECT - The second boldface reveals that Marx's style actually resembles 18th century Italian comedy, which completely undermines the reviewer's observation as evidence of unfaithfulness
B
The first is an observation that has been advanced to support a position that the argument opposes; the second introduces a potential objection to the position that the argument defends.
"The first is an observation that has been advanced to support a position that the argument opposes" - ✓ CORRECT - Same reasoning as Choice A "the second introduces a potential objection to the position that the argument defends" - ✗ WRONG - The second boldface doesn't introduce an objection to the author's position; it actually supports the author's position by showing the production is faithful
C
The first is an observation that has been advanced to support a position that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
"The first is an observation that has been advanced to support a position that the argument opposes" - ✓ CORRECT - Same reasoning as Choice A "the second is the main conclusion of the argument" - ✗ WRONG - The main conclusion is that the reviewer's claim is inaccurate, not the statement about Marx's style resembling Italian tradition
D
The first is a position that the argument opposes; the second is an intermediate conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument.
"The first is a position that the argument opposes" - ✗ WRONG - The first boldface is not a position but an observation/factual claim about the actor's performance style "the second is an intermediate conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion" - ✗ WRONG - While the second does support the main conclusion, it's presented as factual information, not as a conclusion drawn from other premises
E
The first is a position that the argument opposes; the second provides evidence in support of the position that the argument defends.
"The first is a position that the argument opposes" - ✗ WRONG - Same reasoning as Choice D - the first boldface is an observation, not a position "the second provides evidence in support of the position that the argument defends" - ✓ CORRECT - The second boldface does provide evidence supporting the author's position that the production is faithful
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