Boldface Argument Structure questions test your ability to analyze the logical role of highlighted portions within a passage. Two portions of text are set in bold, and you must determine what function each serves in the argument — whether it is a conclusion, a piece of evidence, an opposing position, or something else entirely. These questions are rare (zero or one per test) but tend to be rated Hard, making them valuable differentiators for top scorers. Below you will learn the common role patterns, work through two interactive examples step by step, and then practice with five guided questions drawn from realistic GRE-style passages.
What Are Boldface Questions?
Boldface Argument Structure questions present a short passage in which two portions of text are highlighted in bold. The question asks you to identify the logical role each boldface portion plays in the argument. You are not asked what the boldface statements mean — you are asked what function they serve in the reasoning.
Each answer choice contains two descriptions separated by a semicolon. The first description applies to the first boldface portion; the second applies to the second boldface portion. The correct answer must accurately describe both roles. If even one description is wrong, the entire choice is wrong.
Common question stems include: "In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?" and "The two portions in boldface play which of the following roles in the argument?"
Frequency note: Boldface questions appear less frequently on the GRE than core subtypes like Inference, Main Idea, or Function/Purpose. You may encounter zero or one on a given test. However, they are consistently rated Hard and reward structured analysis — making them high-value targets for your preparation.
The Argument Role Vocabulary
Boldface answer choices use a precise vocabulary to describe the role of each highlighted portion. Mastering these labels is essential — the difference between "a fact" and "a position defended" can be the difference between a correct and incorrect answer.
1
A Fact (or Observation)
An objective data point or empirical finding presented as true. Not something being argued for — something presented as a given. Example: 'the rate of accidents was lower for yellow trucks.'
2
The Position Defended (Conclusion)
The argument's main claim — what it is ultimately trying to prove. Signal words include 'therefore,' 'it follows that,' 'these findings suggest.' Example: 'CCS cannot meaningfully reduce net emissions.'
3
Evidence Supporting a Position
A fact, study, or observation used as a reason to believe the conclusion. It supports the argument's main point. Example: 'employees who completed training exhibited no reduction in discriminatory decisions.'
4
A Position the Argument Opposes
A claim or view that the argument disagrees with. Often introduced before 'However' or 'But.' Example: 'these tools eliminate subjective biases inherent in human decision-making.'
5
An Objection or Concession
An objection challenges the argument's conclusion. A concession is a point the author acknowledges before countering. Both involve temporary acknowledgment of a contrary point.
6
An Assumption
Something taken for granted without explicit statement. Rarely highlighted in boldface, but sometimes described in answer choices as a way to mislabel a stated claim.
How to Solve Boldface Questions Step by Step
These seven strategies apply to every Boldface question. Work through them in order to avoid the most common errors.
Do not jump to the boldface portions in isolation. You need the full context to understand the argument's structure. Read the passage from beginning to end before analyzing any individual part.
What is the argument ultimately trying to prove? This is the most important structural element. Look for signal phrases like "these findings suggest," "it follows that," or "therefore." Determine whether either boldface portion is the conclusion.
What facts or observations does the argument use to support the conclusion? Is either boldface portion serving as evidence? Evidence supports the conclusion — it is a reason for believing it, not the conclusion itself.
Does the passage present a position that the argument disagrees with? Look for words like "However," "But," "critics argue," or "some maintain." Is either boldface portion an opposing view that the argument challenges?
For each one, ask three diagnostic questions: (a) Is this the main conclusion, or does it support/oppose the main conclusion? (b) Is this presented as an objective observation or as a debatable claim? (c) Does the passage argue FOR this statement or AGAINST it?
Eliminate any choice where either description does not match your analysis. If the first description is wrong, the entire choice is wrong — even if the second description is perfect.
The correct answer must accurately describe both portions. This is the single most important step. The most common error on Boldface questions is selecting an answer where one description is correct but the other is not.
Pro tip: Work from the conclusion outward. First identify which part of the passage is the main conclusion. Then determine whether each boldface supports it, opposes it, or serves as the basis for the entire debate. Everything else falls into place once you anchor the conclusion.
Worked Example: Opposing View Pattern
This is the most common Boldface pattern on the GRE: the first boldface is a position the argument opposes, and the second provides evidence used to challenge that position. Work through each step below to build the skill of identifying these roles.
Interactive Walkthrough0/4 steps
Analyzing an Opposing View + Counterevidence Structure
Passage: Archaeologists have long maintained that the shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural settlements was driven primarily by population pressure, which forced groups to adopt more intensive food production methods. However, recent archaeological findings have complicated this narrative. Excavations in the Levant and southeastern Turkey have revealed several well-documented cases of hunter-gatherer groups that adopted agriculture despite having access to abundant wild food resources and no evidence of population stress. These findings suggest that cultural and social factors — such as the desire for sedentary feasting rituals — may have played a more significant role in the agricultural transition than demographic necessity.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
The first is a position the argument opposes; the second provides evidence used to challenge that position.
The first is the argument's main conclusion; the second is evidence that supports that conclusion.
The first is a finding that the argument seeks to explain; the second is the explanation the argument offers.
The first is a position the argument defends; the second presents a concession to an opposing view.
The first is background information; the second is the argument's main conclusion.
1
Step 1: Identify the main conclusion
What is the passage's main conclusion?
2
Step 2: Classify the first boldface portion
3
Step 3: Classify the second boldface portion
4
Step 4: Select the correct answer
Worked Example: Claim vs. Conclusion Pattern
In this pattern, the first boldface is a claim the argument challenges, and the second boldface is the argument's own conclusion, which directly contradicts the first claim. The challenge is distinguishing between evidence and the conclusion itself.
Interactive Walkthrough0/4 steps
Analyzing a Challenged Claim + Author's Conclusion Structure
Passage: Proponents of carbon capture and storage (CCS) have claimed that this technology offers a viable pathway to significantly reducing industrial carbon emissions without requiring a complete transition away from fossil fuels. However, current CCS installations capture less than one percent of global annual emissions, and the captured carbon is most often used in enhanced oil recovery, which itself generates additional emissions. Moreover, the enormous capital costs of CCS infrastructure create financial incentives for continued fossil fuel combustion to justify the investment. It follows, then, that CCS cannot meaningfully reduce net emissions so long as the economic incentives driving fossil fuel extraction remain unchanged.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
The first is evidence that supports the argument's conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
The first is a claim the argument challenges; the second is the argument's own conclusion.
The first is the argument's main conclusion; the second is a claim that contradicts that conclusion.
The first is a concession the argument makes; the second is evidence used to limit that concession.
The first is a prediction the argument questions; the second is an alternative prediction the argument favors.
1
Step 1: Identify the main conclusion
The passage says 'It follows, then, that...' What follows the signal phrase?
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Step 2: Classify the first boldface portion
3
Step 3: Classify the second boldface portion
4
Step 4: Select the correct answer
Practice Questions
Now apply what you learned. Each question includes the full passage text with boldface portions indicated. After you submit your answer, click through the solution walkthrough one step at a time to compare against your own analysis.
Question 1 — Opposing View + Counterevidence
Utility executives have long argued that the intermittent nature of solar and wind power makes these sources inherently unsuitable as primary contributors to a reliable electrical grid, since they cannot generate electricity on demand when consumer need is highest. However, a growing body of engineering research has challenged this assumption. Grid operators in Denmark and Germany have demonstrated that by combining geographically distributed renewable installations with smart demand-response systems and modest battery storage, modern grids can maintain reliability standards comparable to those achieved through conventional fossil fuel generation — even when renewables supply more than 60 percent of total output. These results indicate that intermittency is an engineering challenge that has already been solved at scale, not an inherent barrier to renewable energy dominance.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Question 2 — Challenged Claim + Counterevidence
Proponents of algorithmic hiring systems argue that these tools eliminate the subjective biases inherent in human decision-making by evaluating candidates solely on objective, job-relevant criteria. However, recent research in computational fairness has cast doubt on this claim. Studies have found that when algorithmic systems are trained on historical hiring data from companies with documented patterns of demographic underrepresentation, the algorithms reliably reproduce and even amplify those same patterns of exclusion. These findings suggest that algorithmic hiring systems, rather than eliminating bias, may systematically disadvantage applicants from demographic groups that were historically underrepresented in the training data.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Question 3 — Opposed Claim + Author's Conclusion
Urban planning advocates have long asserted that increasing residential density in city centers improves public health outcomes by reducing automobile dependence and encouraging walkable, active lifestyles among residents. Yet data from several high-density metropolitan areas complicate this picture. Studies conducted in Hong Kong, Manhattan, and central Paris show that dense urban neighborhoods consistently exhibit elevated rates of respiratory illness linked to concentrated vehicle emissions and poor air circulation between closely spaced buildings, and that residents report higher chronic stress levels attributable to noise pollution and reduced access to green space. Synthesizing these findings, researchers concluded that residential density, absent coordinated investment in air quality management and accessible parks, is more likely to worsen population health than to improve it.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Many corporate diversity consultants maintain that implicit bias training programs effectively reduce discriminatory behavior in the workplace by making employees aware of their unconscious prejudices. However, a rigorous longitudinal study tracking over 8,000 employees across 12 organizations found that employees who completed implicit bias training exhibited no statistically significant reduction in discriminatory hiring decisions compared to a control group that received no training. These results suggest that awareness of implicit biases, by itself, does not translate into measurable behavioral change in professional settings.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Question 5 — Opposed Position + Author's Conclusion
Proponents of trophy hunting have long maintained that the revenue generated by regulated trophy hunting provides essential funding for wildlife conservation in sub-Saharan Africa, and that without this revenue, anti-poaching enforcement and habitat preservation programs would collapse. However, analyses of financial flows from trophy hunting operations reveal that only a small fraction of the revenue — often less than 5 percent — reaches conservation programs or local communities, with the majority captured by foreign outfitters and government intermediaries. Furthermore, several African nations that have banned trophy hunting entirely, such as Kenya, have maintained or expanded their wildlife populations through alternative funding models including photographic tourism and international conservation grants. These findings suggest that trophy hunting revenue is neither necessary nor sufficient for effective wildlife conservation in the region.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
Four Common Traps
Trap 1 — One correct, one wrong. The answer choice nails the role of one boldface portion but mislabels the other. This is the most frequent trap. For example, the choice might correctly call the first boldface "a position the argument opposes" but then incorrectly call the second boldface "an assumption" when it is actually evidence. Always verify both descriptions.
Trap 2 — Role reversal. The descriptions are swapped — the first description applies to the second boldface, and vice versa. To avoid this, label each boldface portion independently before looking at the answer choices. Write down "BF1 = opposing view" and "BF2 = evidence" before scanning the options.
Trap 3 — Conclusion vs. evidence confusion. The answer calls the conclusion "evidence" or calls evidence "the conclusion." To distinguish them, ask: "Is this what the argument is trying to prove (conclusion), or is it a reason for believing the conclusion (evidence)?" Look for signal phrases like "therefore," "it follows that," or "these findings suggest."
Trap 4 — Fact vs. position confusion. The answer calls a factual observation a "position" or calls a defended claim a "fact." A fact is an objective observation presented as given. A position is a debatable claim that the argument either defends or attacks. If the passage argues for or against a statement, it is a position, not a fact.
Role Combinations Quick-Reference
The GRE uses a limited set of role combinations for the two boldface portions. Familiarize yourself with the most common pairings so you can quickly recognize the structure.
Boldface 1 Role
Boldface 2 Role
What It Means
Opposing view
Evidence against that view
The first is a position the argument rejects; the second undermines it
Claim challenged
Author's conclusion
The first is attacked; the second is the argument's own conclusion that contradicts it
Fact at issue
Position defended
The first is the observation everyone is trying to explain; the second is the argument's explanation
Evidence
Conclusion
The first supports the second; both are on the same side of the argument
Objection
Response to the objection
The first challenges the argument; the second counters the challenge
Concession
Position defended despite concession
The first acknowledges a point; the second presents the conclusion anyway
Two pieces of evidence
(same conclusion)
Both support the same conclusion; less common on the GRE
Quick Diagnostic Checklist
Use these three questions to quickly classify any Boldface structure:
1. Is either boldface the conclusion? If yes, identify it first — everything else relates to it.
2. Does the passage contain "however," "but," or "critics argue"? If yes, one boldface is likely an opposing view or objection.
3. Are both boldface portions on the same side? If yes, they are likely evidence/conclusion or two pieces of evidence.
How often do Boldface Argument Structure questions appear on the GRE?
Boldface questions are relatively rare on the GRE. You may encounter zero or one on a given test. However, they are considered high-difficulty questions that can differentiate top scorers, so preparation is worthwhile. The limited number of practice examples available reflects the actual distribution in official materials.
What is a Boldface Argument Structure question on the GRE?
A Boldface question presents a passage with two portions highlighted in bold. You must identify the logical role each boldface portion plays in the argument — for example, whether it is a conclusion, evidence, an opposing view, or a concession. Each answer choice contains two descriptions separated by a semicolon, one for each boldface portion. The correct answer must accurately describe both roles.
What is the most common trap in GRE Boldface questions?
The most common trap is the "one right, one wrong" answer choice. This type of wrong answer correctly identifies the role of one boldface portion but mislabels the other. To avoid it, always verify that both descriptions in an answer choice match your independent analysis of each boldface portion.
How should I approach GRE Boldface questions?
Start by reading the entire passage and identifying the main conclusion. Then classify each boldface portion independently: is it a fact, a claim, evidence, an opposing view, or the conclusion? Finally, match your classifications against the answer choices, verifying that both descriptions are correct. The key is to classify first, then match — not the other way around.
What is the difference between Boldface and Function/Purpose questions on the GRE?
Both question types analyze the role of specific passage elements. However, Function/Purpose questions ask about any element in any passage type, while Boldface questions specifically ask about two highlighted portions in an argument. Boldface questions also require you to evaluate two roles simultaneously — and both must be correct for an answer to be right. The structural analysis skills are transferable, but the format demands extra precision.