This video explains the characteristics of a Para-completion Statement on GMAT Critical Reasoning. The concepts in this video will prove valuable in solving question in the verbal section on GMAT.
Characteristics of a Para-completion Statement on GMAT Critical Reasoning
Characteristics of a Para-Completion Statement on GMAT Critical Reasoning
In para-completion based critical reasoning questions, you are presented with an incomplete paragraph and must choose the most fitting option to complete it. In this short article, we will cover how to determine whether an answer choice is an appropriate way to complete a paragraph.
The Para-Completion Statement
The correct para-completion choice must effectively finish the paragraph and logically flow from the whole paragraph, not just the last sentence. The concluding statement must do justice to the whole argument. The mind map strategy works best for these questions. The missing link is not needed here; you must simply ensure that your mind map has a logical train of thought. The argument might have the facts presented haphazardly but while preparing your mind map, you must arrange them logically. Let us illustrate this through the following example.
Example 1 -Which of the following best completes the passage?
The GDP of Xitora has grown by 15% during the tenure of the current political party. This is the highest growth since any tenure over the previous 100 years. The government's role in this growth has been vastly applauded by multiple sections of society. However, the party is unlikely to win another term in the upcoming elections. However, the government has been accused of being soft on various social, political, and diplomatic issues. The elections are due in three months and therefore...
Mind Map: High GDP growth--> party deserves credit--> party's stand on social, political, and diplomatic issues has been criticized--> ...
Before taking a look at the answer choices, make sure to understand the passage. The first half of this passage praises the government, while the second half criticizes it, and we must now find the best conclusion for it.
Option 1 -
The party is not likely to win another term in office.
This is a hast answer. Such an answer would only do justice to the second half of the passage, not the complete argument. Therefore, it is a poor answer choice.
Option 2 -
The party's economic policies must be lauded.
Conversely, this option only talks about the first half of the paragraph, where the party is praised but does not address the second half. Therefore, this is also not a good answer choice.
Option 3 -
The voter's must analyze the party's performance.
This is a slightly emotional answer choice and, therefore, unlikely to be correct.
Option 4 -
The public must demand greater government action on social, political, and diplomatic issues.
This option also only talks about the second half of the paragraph and does not cover the election. If you take a close look at the final sentence, you will see that it begins by mentioning elections, thus, the correct option must also be related to elections.
Option 5 -
It is difficult to predict whether the party will win another term in office.
The first half of the paragraph talks about one of the government's strong points, the second half talks about one of its weak points, and the final sentence talks about elections. Since the author's opinion seems to be that the government has both strong and weak points, the idea that the election results will be difficult to predict is a fine conclusion to the passage.
This article has deliberately been kept brief; for a more elaborate explanation, please refer to Experts' Global's Stage One Critical Reasoning videos.
