9. Elimination
We have understood how to select the most appropriate option. However, very often, we would be torn between two options, as both seem correct. Indeed, sometimes, all options seem to be summarising the paragraph, or at least a part of it.
You can use elimination techniques to help you select the correct option. Elimination is a crucial technique in Summary questions, as well as other Critical Reasoning questions such as reading Comprehension.
You can eliminate options that are:
1) Factually incorrect
2) Logically inconsistent
3) Not in line with the author's viewpoint
4) More inferential in nature (has an inference or conclusion which is not explicit in the passage)
5) Very long and meandering (this should only be used if there are more suitable shorter options; never eliminate on the basis of length alone)
6) Do not have all the key points (this should be used only when you are comparing two options and one option has an additional important detail)
7) Focusses on the examples instead of the key message
Let us solve some examples so that these parameters are clear.
Example 24
The question below contains a paragraph followed by alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the paragraph.
As our understanding of genetics has advanced, we’ve been able to develop new scientific techniques based on genes. Genetic modification involves inserting new genes into an organism, to give it additional traits or abilities, such as pesticide resistance. Gene therapy has been developed as a treatment for some single-gene disorders, and works by administering functional copies of particular genes to people who have faulty alleles.
(1) Genetic modification enables improvements and prevention of disorders.
(2) Enhanced genetic understanding has enabled scientists to insert or remove genes, thereby improving positive traits and preventing disorders.
(3) We can cure people at the genetic level, with our understanding of gene theory.
(4) Genetic modification can increase pesticide resistance to plants, and cure single-gene disorders in humans.
Solution
We learn about genetic modification – inserting new genes – in this paragraph. This can provide additional abilities or treat disorders caused by single genes.
This is succinctly captured in option (1).
Option (2) is factually incorrect, as the paragraph does not speak about removing genes at all.
Option (3) has not captured the key message as well as option (1) – curing people at the genetic level is not as clear as improvements and prevention of disorders.
Option (4) is not as precise and succinct as option (1), even though it captures the same points. Therefore, we can eliminate it and select option (1) instead.
Answer: (1) Genetic modification enables improvements and prevention of disorders.
Example 25
The question below contains a paragraph followed by alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the paragraph.
[CAT 2003 Retest]
It is important for shipping companies to be clear about the objectives for maintenance and materials management– as to whether the primary focus is on service level improvement or cost minimization. Often when certain systems are set in place, the cost minimization objective and associated procedures become more important than the flexibility required for service level improvement. The problem really arises since cost minimization tends to focus on out of pocket costs which are visible, while the opportunity costs, often greater in value, are lost sight of.
(1) Shipping companies have to either minimize costs or maximize service quality. If they focus on cost minimization, they will reduce quality. They should focus on service level improvement, or else opportunity costs will be lost sight of.
(2) Shipping companies should determine the primary focus of their maintenance and materials management. Focus on cost minimization may reduce visible costs, but ignore greater invisible costs and impair service quality.
(3) Any cost minimization program in shipping is bound to lower the quality of service. Therefore, shipping companies must be clear about the primary focus of their maintenance and materials management before embarking on cost minimization.
(4) Shipping companies should focus on quality level improvement rather than cost cutting. Cost cutting will lead to untold opportunity costs. Companies should have systems in place to make the service level flexible.
Solution
In the given paragraph, the author tells us that it is important for shipping companies to be clear about their objectives for maintenance and materials management. The author goes on to show how the companies' primary focus would determine their actions, by using the example of service quality and cost as competing objectives. The author's key message is that it is very important to identify the objectives first.
This message is effectively summarised in option (2), which captures the point about determining the primary objective, and also showcases the difference with differing objectives.
Option (1) has an error – this statement assumes that shipping companies will either look to minimise cost or maximise service quality. However, in the paragraph, the author has only used these two objectives as examples. There might be many more objectives of a shipping company (e.g. safety, shipping time, increased sales, profit maximization etc.).
Option (3) captures the points in the reverse order, and does not explain the importance of understanding the primary objective properly.
Option (4) assumes that quality level improvement is preferable – in fact, the author only uses these two objectives as examples to showcase the actions the company might take. The author does not provide any judgement as to which objective is preferable, only stating that it is important to identify the key objective.
Answer: (2) Shipping companies should determine the primary focus of their maintenance and materials management. Focus on cost minimization may reduce visible costs, but ignore greater invisible costs and impair service quality.
Example 26
The question below contains a paragraph followed by alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the paragraph.
The unfortunate truth is that the government is simply being buffeted by politics one way and another. An opposition campaign about high fuel prices appeared to be gaining steam, so the government lowered them. Social media was laughing at the rupee's fall, so the RBI was pressured to step in. Jobs aren't being created because manufacturing in India is still uncompetitive, so tariffs are being raised to force import-substituting factories to open. Any government that thinks it can control tariffs, the exchange rate and inflation, while containing the fiscal deficit, is in for a nasty surprise.
(1) The government will be surprised to find out that it cannot control tariffs, exchange rate and inflation, even with the RBI's support.
(2) The government is unfortunately giving in to the political requirements instead of having a clear policy on pricing, inflation, trade tariffs and exchange rate.
(3) The government is changing its policies on fuel, exchange rate and tariffs for political mileage – this will negatively impact inflation and the fiscal deficit.
(4) The government is changing its policies on fuel, exchange rate and tariffs for political mileage – but managing so many variables is impossible.
Solution
In this paragraph, the author tells us that the government is amending its policies because of politics – it reduced fuel prices, pressured the RBI to control the exchange rate and increased tariffs to increase local manufacturing and jobs. The author feels that managing so many variables (including inflation and the fiscal deficit) is impossible. In for a nasty surprise is an idiomatic phrase meaning in for a shock.
Let us consider the options. Option (1) takes the words in for a nasty surprise literally, and hence can be eliminated.
Option (2) is more of an inference, as the author has not provided a recommendation that the government should have a clear policy on pricing, inflation, trade tariffs and exchange rate. This is implied in the paragraph. Therefore, we can eliminate this option as it is not an appropriate summary.
Option (3) also makes an assumption that the changes being made by the government with negatively impact inflation and the fiscal deficit. The author simply states that the government cannot control so many variables. Thus, it can be eliminated.
Option (4) summarises the paragraph correctly, and hence, is the correct choice.
Answer: (4) The government is changing its policies on fuel, exchange rate and tariffs for political mileage – but managing so many variables is impossible.
Example 27
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author's position.
This is a name so good we wish we’d come up with it first. But alas, the science fiction TV drama Fringe beat us to it and created Massive Dynamic, the ultimate conglomerate. Massive Dynamic creates and advances in the fields of genetics, energy, entertainment, biomedical technology, ballistics, artificial intelligence, aeronautics, government networking, and the list goes on. It’s the platonic ideal of a name for a multi-billion dollar corporation making multi-disciplinary moves. And it sounds exactly as scary as a company with that kind of power should.
(1) Massive Dynamic is a multi-billion dollar conglomerate with branches in multiple sectors, and is frightfully powerful.
(2) Massive Dynamic is a great example for the name of a fictional powerful conglomerate.
(3) Multi-billion dollar conglomerates that are rich and powerful are to be feared.
(4) Massive Dynamic has branched into multiple sectors including biology, energy, entertainment, ballistics, AI, and government networking.
Solution
This paragraph tells us about a fictional conglomerate, Massive Dynamic, from the science fiction TV drama Fringe. The author feels that this is a really good name. The fake conglomerate has branched into multiple sectors and has huge revenues and power.
This is captured in option (2).
Options (1) and (4) are factually incorrect, as they do not mention that this is a fictional company.
Option (3) can be eliminated as it is not logical – the option has extrapolated this fictional example into a general inference.
Thus, option (2) is the correct choice.
Answer: (2) Massive Dynamic is a great example for the name of a fictional powerful conglomerate.
Example 28
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best summarises the author's position.
I believe that the truth should never be censored. Not in the West, not in China, not in Russia. I’ve spent five days in totalitarian North Korea — it’s a place built on lies, and I am convinced that only the truth can set us free. That said, social media platforms have started to “censor” provable lies, patent falsehoods, blatant misdirections, and foreign clickfarm-created “news” created expressly for the purpose of fomenting disunity in the West. The truth must never be censored, but we must stand guard against egregious and verifiable lies like “the earth is flat,” “vaccines kill babies,” and so on. This sentiment infuriates people on the far right — because after all, who gets to determine “truth”? And it’s only a matter of time before tens of millions of ultra-conservatives ditch Facebook for a new social media platform that respects their right to be deluded.
(1) Facebook and other social media companies should not be allowed to censor the truth.
(2) Multiple countries such as North Korea, Russia and China censor the truth, and it is not good for humanity.
(3) Facebook and other social media companies should ensure that trust is not censored, while they are working to remove false propaganda from their platforms.
(4) The truth should never be censored, but lies should be.
Solution
The author differentiates between truth which should not be censored at all, and lies which should be edited by social media platforms. The author also states that extreme right-wingers are angry and might even move to alternative sites which allow false data.
Let us consider the options.
Option (1) is correct, but not in line with the author's key message – as the author is stating that social media sites should censor lies.
Option (2) covers the point about not censoring the truth, but misses the key point – censoring lies.
Option (3) does not combine the two points correctly – truth is mentioned in conjunction with countries that aim to suppress the truth. However, this option states that social media platforms should ensure that the truth is not censored. The author, on the other hand, wants to emphasize that these platforms should eliminate lies.
Option (4) explains both points – the trust and the lies. It does not explicitly speak about social media platforms, but is the most suitable option.
Answer: (4) The truth should never be censored, but lies should be.
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