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VerbalCritical Reasoning

Free GMAT Critical Reasoning Practice Question

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The historic town hall needs extensive roof repairs. One faction on the council wants to demolish the building and replace it with a modern civic center, while another wants to restore it. Restoration would preserve a landmark that draws tourists and anchors the town's annual festival, and a preservation grant would cover most of the cost. Accordingly, the council should restore the town hall rather than demolish it.

Which of the following best expresses the main conclusion of the argument?

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Answer & Explanation

Correct answer

D

Locate the claim the reasons converge on, and use the signal word. The final sentence opens with "Accordingly," marking the conclusion the argument has been building toward.

The reasons, that restoration preserves a tourist-drawing landmark that anchors the town's annual festival and that a preservation grant would cover most of the cost, support one recommendation: the council should restore the town hall rather than demolish it. That is choice D.

A, the need for extensive roof repairs, states the problem prompting the debate, a premise rather than the conclusion. B, the grant covering most of the cost, is a supporting reason about funding. C, the building's tourist and festival value, is evidence used to support restoration, not the point being argued. E, a blanket rule against ever demolishing historic landmarks, goes far beyond the argument, which concerns only this one town hall.