Gap Analysis – Practice Passages

Instructions

1. Go through the below passages.
2. You need not limit your time. Take as long as you feel you need to understand them well.
3. Once you have read the passage, add your answers as comments below.
4. You may go through the explanation videos below after.

Passage 1

Music critic: Fewer and fewer musicians are studying classical music, decreasing the likelihood that those with real aptitude for such music will be performing it. Audiences who hear these performances will not appreciate classical music’s greatness and will thus decamp to other genres. So to maintain classical music’s current meager popularity, we must encourage more young musicians to enter the field.

Questions

1. Is the above passage an argument?
2. If so, what is the main point (conclusion)?
3. On what basis (support) is the main point made?
4. What are the connections among the various ideas in the passage?
5. Are there any gaps? If so, mention ALL the gaps you notice.

Passage 2

Proposed new safety rules for the Beach City airport would lengthen considerably the minimum time between takeoffs from the airport. In consequence, the airport would be able to accommodate 10 percent fewer flights than currently use the airport daily. The city’s operating budget depends heavily on taxes generated by tourist spending, and most of the tourists come by plane. Therefore, the proposed new safety rules, if adopted, will reduce the revenue available for the operating budget.

Questions

1. Is the above passage an argument?
2. If so, what is the main point (conclusion)?
3. On what basis (support) is the main point made?
4. What are the connections among the various ideas in the passage?
5. Are there any gaps? If so, mention ALL the gaps you notice.