It is generally believed that an Indian tribe known as “The

ANALYZE EACH ANSWER:

A) The first is a commonly held belief that the argument seeks to refute; the second is evidence used in that refutation.
Wrong. Because it starts with “therefore”, the second part is a conclusion, not evidence.

B) The first is a generalization that the argument accepts as true; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Wrong. SHELL GAME. The first is a generalization that archeaologists believed to be true, not the argument accepts as true. The argument actually refutes the archeaologists’ belief.

C) The first is evidence used to support a conclusion that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Wrong. The first is not an evidence, it’s a conclusion because it starts with “it is generally believed that….”.

D) The first is a conclusion that is generally accepted as true; the second is a conclusion that refutes it.
IMO, Correct. The first is a conclusion that the second tries to refute. The second is the main conclusion of the argument.

- Read 1 st boldface than follwing argument (judge from this paragraph that following argument support the 1st boldface]
- Now Read 2nd argument which includes 1st boldface items also and now 2nd boldface exactly refuting 1st bold face]

E) The first is an intermediate conclusion that is generally accepted as true; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
Wrong. If the first is an intermediate conclusion, the second is main conclusion. Logically, the first should support the second, but it does not.

Waiting for OA.
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I am having a hard time understanding this question
Options D and E look equally good and bad at the same time

For Option D
1. How is the first boldface "a conclusion"? Where is the support to derive this conclusion?
2. The 2nd BF is fine

For Option E
1. The 1st BF cannot be a conclusion again. However, it does seem like a statement that is "generally" accepted as true. The argument does not advocate its validity, but the statement in itself can be accepted as a "generally true statement".
2. The 2nd BF is fine.

I saw a similar question here - https://gmatclub.com/forum/letter-to-th ... 70567.html
There is a mention of "a conclusion" in the right answer choice. My aforementioned conundrum stands true here as well. How can we justify something as a "conclusion" without giving supporting statements to derive such said conclusion?

I believe I am missing something.
Experts, please advise. Thank you.

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