GMAT CR Explanation Questions: Compilation of Approaches
This article will explain how Dustin predicts the direction of the correct answer when tackling Explain questions.While it may not be 100% applicable to all Explain questions, it covers the patterns of 70% of them.Dustin believes this is sufficient for everyone to grasp the possible direction of the correct answer after reading the passage,and it also helps in thinking and quickly identifying the most likely correct option when reviewing the five choices.
Simply put, when reading the passage, identify the two contradictory facts in an Explain question and immediately determine if they fall into one of the following three types:“Useful/Not Used,” “Decrease/Increase,” “Unchanged/Changed.”Once identified, you can examine the five options according to the predicted direction below.If an option aligns with the predicted direction, it is very likely the correct answer.
Useful/Not Used
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- Useful but not used: Has additional drawbacks / Loses original advantages.
- Not useful but used: Has additional advantages / Lacks original disadvantages.
Suncorp, a new corporation with limited funds, has been clearing large sections of the tropical Amazon forest for cattle ranching. This practice continues even though greater profits can be made from rubber tapping, which does not destroy the forest, than from cattle ranching, which does destroy the forest.
Rubber tapping is profitable and doesn’t harm the environment, yet cattle ranching is still pursued: Useful but not used
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why Suncorp has been pursuing the less profitable of the two economic activities mentioned above?
(E) The amount of money required to begin a rubber-tapping operation is twice as high as the amount needed to begin a cattle ranch.
Rubber tapping is expensive: Additional drawback.
Decrease/Increase
- Decrease but increase: Additional increase / Other decreases slow down.
- Increase but decrease: Additional decrease / Other increases slow down.
In order to withstand tidal currents, juvenile horseshoe crabs frequently burrow in the sand. Such burrowing discourages barnacles from clinging to their shells. When fully grown, however, the crabs can readily withstand tidal currents without burrowing, and thus they acquire substantial populations of barnacles. Surprisingly, in areas where tidal currents are very weak, juvenile horseshoe crabs are found not to have significant barnacle populations, even though they seldom burrow.
Barnacles on crabs should be abundant but are few: Increase but decrease
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the surprising finding?
(E) Until they are fully grown, horseshoe crabs shed their shells and grow new ones several times a year.
Crabs shed their shells regularly: Additional decrease.
Unchanged/Changed
- Changed but unchanged: Opposite change.
- Unchanged but changed: Same direction change.
Plan: Concerned about the welfare of its senior citizens, the government of Runagia decided two years ago to increase by 20 percent the government-provided pension paid to all Runagians age sixty-five and older.
Result: Many Runagian senior citizens are no better off financially now than they were before the increase.
Further information: The annual rate of inflation since the pension increase has been below 5 percent, and the increased pension has been duly received by all eligible Runagians.
More money for seniors, but living standards unchanged: Changed but unchanged
In light of the further information, which of the following, if true, does most to explain the result that followed implementation of the plan?
(C) The prices of goods and services that meet the special needs of many senior citizens have increased at a rate much higher than the rate of inflation.
Prices of goods used by seniors increased significantly: Opposite change.
Hollywood restaurant is replacing some of its standard tables with tall tables and stools. The restaurant already fills every available seat during its operating hours, and the change in seating arrangements will not result in an increase in the restaurant’s seating capacity. Nonetheless, the restaurant’s management expects revenue to increase as a result of the seating change without any concurrent change in menu, prices, or operating hours.
Restaurant capacity unchanged but revenue increased: Unchanged but changed
Which of the following, if true, provides the best reason for the expectation?
(B) Diners seated on stools typically do not linger over dinner as long as diners seated at standard tables.
Table turnover rate increased: Same direction change.
