To the Defenders of Tenure in Teaching, its Predominant Function is to Safeguard Public Welfare

Question: To the defenders of tenure in teaching, its predominant function is to safeguard public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability. Stability of employment expectations tends to enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession and may induce highly qualified persons to pursue a teaching career instead of more lucrative pursuits and is therefore, perhaps the biggest advantage of tenured professorship. However, since termination of tenured professors is literally impossible, tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers. Some fear that once a professor gains tenure he or she will go into neutral mode and stop producing. The inept are in fact, protected by tenure.

Which of the following best identifies the roles played by the boldfaced portions in the passage?

1. The first describes evidence presented to support a position that the argument does not oppose; the second states the position that the argument seeks to establish.
2. The first presents a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; the second questions that support.
3. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.
4. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
5. The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

“To the defenders of tenure in teaching, its predominant function is to safeguard public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability.” – this is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘ 501 GMAT Questions​’. In this particular topic, candidates are asked to select the most appropriate explanation that states the role that boldface plays. In this question, the candidates need to provide an option that supports the argument provided in the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. Critical reasoning in GMAT requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument.  The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: D
Explanation:
This is a GMAT critical reasoning question. An assumption is an implied hypothesis. So we are looking for something that is implied in the argument. In case it is wrong or maybe disable the argument.

Let us check the following that best identifies the roles played by the boldfaced portions in the passage:

1. This sentence sets the context. The author states the opinion of people who support tenure in teaching. The supporters believe that the main function of tenures is to protect the public good. This is done by protecting academic freedom and by ensuring that academics (teachers) are answerable for their actions. Not correct.
2. In this sentence, the author talks about the biggest advantage of a tenured professorship:
   i. It provides stability of work
   ii. Making teaching an attractive profession
   iii. It might attract highly educated people to pursue teaching instead of pursuing something more profitable. Not correct.
3. However, since the termination of tenured professors is literally impossible, tenures may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers. Not correct
4. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
   Correct option.
5. The first is a claim. It is an opinion and called a claim (correct)
   The second line is supporting the defenders of tenures and the argument opposes them. (Correct)
   Advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.
   It itself is the main conclusion. (incorrect)

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