Last time, I covered in detail how to approach weaken the conclusion and strengthen the conclusion question types in GMAT critical reasoning. Today, I’d like to review another popular CR question type – select the best conclusion/inference. It’s important to remember that the proper identification of the question is half the battle because the question type will dictate how we analyze the argument. “Select the best conclusion/inference” questions can be found in a variety of forms.

Common forms of this question are:

  • The author is arguing that…
  • Which of the following conclusions can most properly be drawn…
  • Which of the following, must be true on the basis of the statements…
  • Which of the following can properly be inferred..

What to look for

This question type is often masked as “identity the inference”, but remember that inference and conclusion essentially convey the same message. Note that in this question type, the conclusion won’t be contained within the reading passage; the passage will most likely be entirely composed of statements of evidence. You are expected to select the best conclusion based on the statements of evidence shown. Key takeaways are:

  1. The solution will never be a huge stretch from what the evidence is stating
  2. Always avoid answer choices with extreme vocabulary.

Example

With Proposition 13, if you bought your house 11 years ago for $75,000, your property tax would be approximately $914 a year (1 percent of $75,000 increased by 2 percent each year for 11 years); and if your neighbor bought an identical house next door to you for $200,000 this year, his tax would be $2,000 (1 percent of $200,000). Without Proposition 13, both you and your neighbor would pay $6,000 a year in property taxes (3 percent of $200,000).

Which of the following is the conclusion for which the author most likely is arguing in the passage above?

  1. Proposition 13 is unconstitutional because it imposes an unequal tax on properties of equal value.
  2. If Proposition 13 is repealed, every homeowner is likely to experience a substantial increase in property taxes.
  3. By preventing inflation from driving up property values, Proposition 13 has saved homeowners thousands of dollars in property taxes.
  4. If Proposition 13 is not repealed, identical properties will continue to be taxed at different rates.
  5. Proposition 13 has benefited some homeowners more than others

Diagram

1E        w/ Prop 13, house 11 years ago
2E        75,000 tax 914/year
3E        Neighbor bought 200,000 tax 2,000
4E        w/o prop 13 both pay 6,000 in taxes

The Explanation

Eliminate answers A and C. The passage does not mention constitutionality or inflation. D is blatantly wrong because prop 13 allows houses to be taxed at the same percentage rates. E does not really benefit some homeowners more than others because the original purchase price of the home differs. Only answer B correctly states the obvious that if prop 13 is repealed, both homeowners are going to see an increase in property taxes. The answer is B


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