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I'm not sure I get the passage but I'm unable to pick or eliminate answer choices.
so Prof - says W - have concepts and R have examples on metaphysics but then other traditional opinion says those to our independent and unrelated then historians find or argue that they find book / presentation from W in R so traditional opinion is wrong for sure they are related not independent and the find one more proof R notes are just the start of W text so B1 - & B2 I'm unable to get it.
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Professor: Wittgenstein formulated concepts pertaining to the metaphysics of language, and Russell developed closely analogous concepts on the same subject. The traditional opinion among scholars holds that these two philosophers developed their concepts independently of each other. Historians have, however, uncovered Russell’s notes that examine one of Wittgenstein’s books on language. Many now argue that since this book includes a presentation of Wittgenstein’s metaphysics of language, and since the notes precede Russell’s own conception of the metaphysics of language, the traditional opinion is obviously false. However, this discovery warrants a more circumspect conclusion. Russell’s notes are restricted to early parts of Wittgenstein’s text, parts that come before the ones in which Wittgenstein launches into his investigation of the metaphysics of language.

In the professor’s reasoning, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first provides evidence supporting the overall position defended by the professor; the second is evidence that has been used in support of an opposing position.

(B) The first provides evidence supporting the overall position defended by the professor; the second is that position.

(C) The first is evidence used in support of a conclusion criticized by the professor; the second is evidence offered to support the professor’s own position.

(D) The first provides evidence supporting an intermediate conclusion drawn to support the overall position defended by the professor; the second provides evidence against that intermediate conclusion.

(E) The first is evidence used in support of a conclusion criticized by the professor; the second is further information that corroborates that evidence.


 


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Hi niteshmotwani,

You've actually understood the story better than you think. The one thing tripping you up is that there are two different voices in this passage, and you're reading them as if they were one. Once you split them, the boldfaces fall into place.

Let me label the voices:

- Traditional opinion (old view): W and R developed their concepts independently.
- "Many now argue" (other people): the notes found in R's papers prove the old view is false - i.e., R must have leaned on W. This is not the professor's view.
- The professor ("However..."): hold on - this discovery only warrants a more circumspect (more cautious) conclusion. So the professor is pushing back on the "many."

Now place the two boldfaces on that map:

- Boldface 1 - "the notes precede Russell's own conception..." - is a fact the "many" use to reach the conclusion "the traditional opinion is false." That's the conclusion the professor criticizes.
- Boldface 2 - "Russell's notes are restricted to early parts..." - is the fact the professor uses to back his own cautious position.

So: BF1 = evidence for a conclusion the professor rejects; BF2 = evidence for the professor's own view. That's exactly choice C. Every wrong option (A, B, D) breaks because it claims BF1 supports the professor - but BF1 belongs to the "many."

A quick way to lock this in - strip the topic away and keep the skeleton:

"Some say the fingerprints prove Sam was there, so he's guilty. But that conclusion is hasty: the prints are only on the door, not the safe."

Here "the fingerprints prove he was there" supports a conclusion the speaker rejects (BF1), and "only on the door" is the speaker's own counter-evidence (BF2). Same structure, same roles - just easier to feel. Whenever you hit a boldface question, first ask "whose claim is this?" before anything else.

Answer: C

niteshmotwani
I'm not sure I get the passage but I'm unable to pick or eliminate answer choices.
so Prof - says W - have concepts and R have examples on metaphysics but then other traditional opinion says those to our independent and unrelated then historians find or argue that they find book / presentation from W in R so traditional opinion is wrong for sure they are related not independent and the find one more proof R notes are just the start of W text so B1 - & B2 I'm unable to get it.

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Option C is the only one matching the logic of the professor for me. He is opposing an intermediate conclusion by adding more evidence. And each of the bold faces is a fact that supports one of the conclusions.
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