This is the kind of complicated wording that GMAT likes to trick us with. There is no intermediate conclusion, and the historian doesn’t support the overall conclusion. D. The first is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion that the historian criticizes the second is evidence offered in support of the historian’s own position. This is true. The historian opposes the first and gives an alternative explanation. E. The first is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion that the historian criticizes the second is further information that substantiates that evidence. The second part of this is wrong. The first might be evidence that supports something the historian criticizes, however the second part is his alternative explanation and is not in support of the first. Hence incorrect. Example 2 (From Veritas Prep CR Some analysts predict that next year will see total worldwide sea shipping tonnage increase by 2% over the current year. However captains of freight ships generally expect that worldwide shipping tonnage will decrease next year. At issue is the amount of freight that will be shifted from sea ships to foreign airplanes as compared to the growth in overall demand for freight transport. The analysts believe growth in demand will outstrip the shift to freight airplanes the ship captains believe the opposite. From reading we know that the first part is a viewpoint and the second part is a reason for another viewpoint. The two portions in boldface play which of the following roles A. The first portion is evidence that supports a position the second portion is a position that is not necessarily true based on the evidence. Incorrect. The first portion is not evidence. B. The first portion represents one of two opposed positions the second portion describes the underlying reason for the difference in position. This is correct. C. The first portion represents one of two opposed positions the second portion is evidence in support of that position.
