GMAT Reading Comprehension - Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her Useful New Book Power Talk

Reading Passage Question

Question: Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her useful new book Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence, argues that while the simple lingual act of declaring power does not help a powerless person gain influence, well-considered linguistic techniques and maneuvers do. McGinty does not dispute the importance of factors such as expertise and ability in determining stature, but argues persuasively that these power determinants amount to little in a person unable to communicate effectively. Management theorists share McGinty’s view that communication is essential for success and many surveys have shown that the ability to communicate effectively is the characteristic judged by managers to be most critical in determining promotability.

McGinty divides speech into two categories: "language from the center" and "language from the edge". In McGinty's words, "Language from the center makes a speaker sound like a leader.” McGinty suggests that not only is language from the center for those in high positions of power, but it is also for those of lower ranks who wish to gain more power and credibility. A speaker using language from the center exhibits the following: he directs rather than responds; he makes statements rather than asks questions; he contradicts, argues, and disagrees; he uses his experience persuasively; and he maintains an air of impersonality in the workplace. McGinty suggests that the use of language from the center can alter or create a new balance of power. These assertions are supported by studies that show that people accept leadership from those they perceive to be experts.

Language from the edge stands in stark contrast to language from the center. Language from the edge is careful, exploratory, and inquiring. It is inclusive, deferential, and collaborative. A speaker using language from the edge responds rather than directs; asks questions; strives to make others feel heard and protected; and avoids argument. The main purpose of language from the center is to claim authority for a speaker, while language from the edge strives to build consensus and trust. McGinty argues that true power comes from a deep understanding of when to use which style and the ability to use both as necessary.

What distinguishes McGinty’s discussion of effective communication is her focus on communication skills as a way of gaining power; this contrasts with most general management theory, which focuses on communication skills as a way of preventing misunderstandings, avoiding conflict, and fostering interpersonal relationships. McGinty, however, holds that language not only helps maintain relationships but also lends authority. According to Power Talk, effective communication skill “is an understanding of how situation shapes speech and how speech shapes situation” and “an understanding of how speech styles and the forces that affect those styles . . . can build your authority, and enhance your credibility and impact.”

“Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her useful new book Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence.”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 6 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The third paragraph suggests that McGinty would be most likely to agree with which of the following?

(A) Language from the center is more effective than language from the edge.
(B) Managers who use language from the edge are not authoritative.
(C) Powerful people are both authoritative and inclusive.
(D) The only way to become powerful is to learn to use language from the center.
(E) Language from the edge is used primarily by low level employees.

2. The primary focus of the passage is on which of the following?

(A) Demonstrating the effectiveness of a certain framework in the business world
(B) Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of a proposed approach to business communication
(C) Analyzing the details of a controversial theory of business
(D) Presenting a new model of business communication
(E) Defending an outdated method of personnel management

3. The passage suggests that which of the following would be an example of someone using language from the center?

(A) A low-level employee requesting help on a project beyond his capabilities
(B) A manager explaining the benefits of a new procedure by drawing on the procedure’s success in another setting
(C) A low-level employee believing that he has been wrongly criticized by his supervisors
(D) A manager soliciting opinions from his workforce regarding a proposed change
(E) A low-level employee refusing to alter his behavior despite repeated warnings

4. Which of the following best describes the relation of the fourth paragraph to the passage a whole?

(A) It summarizes and contextualizes McGinty’s argument.
(B) It questions the usefulness of McGinty’s thesis.
(C) It casts doubt on the universality of management theory.
(D) It supports an alternative view of McGinty’s proposal.
(E) It offers additional support for McGinty’s conclusions.

5. According to the passage, McGinty believes that ineffective communication can undermine which of the following power determinants?

(A) experience
(B) stature
(C) expertise
(D) an air of impersonality
(E) confidence

6. Which of the following best reflects the primary purpose of the passage?

(A)describing a new theory
(B)comparing and contrasting two opposing theories
(C)differentiating between two types of communication
(D)analyzing the details of a controversial new theory
(E)advocating for the acceptance of a new theory

Suggested GMAT Reading Comprehension Samples

• GMAT Reading Comprehension- New Observations about the Age of Some Globular Clusters in Our Milky Way Galaxy
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Until recently most astronomers believed that the space between the galaxies in our universe was a near-perfect vacuum
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- JIT stands for Just-In-Time. More than a standardized methodology or systematic process, it is a philosophy
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Seeking a competitive advantage, some professional service firms
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- The Pioneers of the Teaching of Science Imagined that its Introduction into Education
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- But Man is Not Destined to Vanish
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Critics have Long been Puzzled by the Inner Contradictions of Major Characters in John Webster’s Tragedies.
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- A Fundamental Principle of Pharmacology is that all Drugs have Multiple Actions.
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- What is the Biggest Lesson from the Great Depression?
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Social learning in animals is said to occur when direct or indirect social interaction facilitates the acquisition of a novel behavior.
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Many Politicians, Business Leaders, and Scholars Discount the Role of Public Policy
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Most Recent Work on the History of Leisure in Europe has been based on the Central Hypothesis
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Although numbers of animals in a given region may fluctuate from year to year, the fluctuations are often temporary
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- On the surface, the Conquest of the Aztec Empire by Herman Cortes
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Coral Reefs Are One of the Most Fragile, Biologically Complex
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- The career of trumpeter Miles Davis was one of the most astonishingly productive that jazz music has ever seen.
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- A One-Child Policy was Implemented in China in 1979
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- The Extinction of the Dinosaurs thought to be Caused by an Asteroid Impact
• GMAT Reading Comprehension- Extensive research has shown that the effects of short-term price promotions on sales