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jade3
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I choose D – Everything but the last sentence is the evidence and assumptions used for the argument. These basically provide an example of divergent opinions. The conclusion is presented in the last line and that conclusion is the main point of the passage.
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jade3
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The OA is D
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jade3
Herman Hesse was one of the most renowned 20th century authors. He is remembered as the father of German modernist literature by virtue of his astounding literary achievements in the novels Siddhartha and Steppenwolf. However, some literary critics claim that Goethe was the greatest writer of the modern era from Germany due to his penchant for romanticism and lucid descriptive technique. These divergent opinions about great writers show how taste-specific the study of literature really is.

What is the main point of the passage?
(A) Herman Hesse is thought by many to be the greatest modern German writer.
(B) German authors were the preeminent writers of the 20th century.
(C) Some claim that Hesse was the most distinguished German writer while
others claim that Goethe was the greatest.
(D) Differences in opinion about the merits of literature demonstrate the fact that much of its worth is assessed subjectively.
(E) One must study German literature in order to understand great writing.

The answer is choice D. The key word in the entire passage is "taste," which in this case relates to subjective valuation.



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