I would pick D as the second statement is the main conclusion .

[quote="eileen1017"]Since it has become known that several of a bank’s top executives have been buying shares in their own bank, the bank’s depositors, who had been worried by rumors that the bank faced impending financial collapse, have been greatly relieved. They reason that since top executives evidently have faith in the bank’s financial soundness, those worrisome rumors must be false. They might well be overoptimistic, however since corporate executives have sometimes bought shares in their own company in a calculated attempt to dispel negative rumors about the company’s health.

In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

A.The first summarizes the evidence used in the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second states the counterevidence on which the argument relies.
B.The first summarizes the evidence used in the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second is an intermediate conclusion supported by that evidence.
C.The first is an intermediate conclusion that forms part of the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second is evidence that undermines the support for this intermediate conclusion.
D.The first is an intermediate conclusion that forms part of the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
E.The first is an intermediate conclusion that forms part of the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second states a further conclusion supported by this intermediate conclusion.

C. the first seems to be an intermediate conclusion, so C,D,E. D is wrong because we have another conclusion, not an evidence. E is wrong because we don't have a further conclusion supported by the first conclusion...we have smtg which counters the first conclusion...

C

The conclusion of the argument: They might well be overoptimistic, however since corporate executives have sometimes bought shares in their own company in a calculated attempt to dispel negative rumors about the company’s health.

The role of Boldface 1: First intermediate conclusion and opposes main conclusion.
The role of the Boldface 2: Supports and part of the conclusion.

A. The first summarizes the evidence used in the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second states the counterevidence on which the argument relies. [First boldface is not evidence – it is cause and effect intermediate conclusion – eliminate it]
B. The first summarizes the evidence used in the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second is an intermediate conclusion supported by that evidence. [First boldface is not evidence – it is cause and effect intermediate conclusion – eliminate it]

C. The first is an intermediate conclusion that forms part of the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second is evidence that undermines the support for this intermediate conclusion. [Second boldface is not evidence – it is a main conclusion – eliminate it]

D. The first is an intermediate conclusion that forms part of the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second is the main conclusion of the argument. [Hold it]

E. The first is an intermediate conclusion that forms part of the reasoning called into question by the argument; the second states a further conclusion supported by this intermediate conclusion. [Eliminate it]

Answer: D