Many winemakers use cork stoppers; but cork stoppers can leak, crumble

E

A. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the
argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

B. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the
argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the
main conclusion of the argument.

C. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence
in support of that main conclusion.

D. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a restatement
of that main conclusion.

E. The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the
argument; the second is that main conclusion.

Conclusion portion is tricky. But if you analyze timeline order, the conclusion which stands chronologically last is final conclusion. Winemakers who which to reduce production cost choose plastic wine-bottle stoppers. But the market gain is chronologically much later, so it is better candidate for the overall conclusion.

Main Conclusion: there is an excellent chance that the Bottle master plastic stopper
will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers.

Bolfface1: Supports main conclusion
Boldface2: Is conclusion

A. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the
argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument. [First is judgment that supports the conclusion – eliminate it]

B. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the
argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the
main conclusion of the argument. [First is judgment that supports the conclusion – eliminate it]

C. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence
in support of that main conclusion. [Second is not evidence – it is also a conclusion – eliminate it]

D. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a restatement
of that main conclusion. [Second is main conclusion of the argument – eliminate it]

E. The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the
argument; the second is that main conclusion. [Hold it]

Answer: E

How do we identify which is the main conclusion and which is the intermediate conclusion?

Either bold face looks like the main conclusion.

Yeah, good question. The big key is in that non-bold portion between the two bolds:

And since the wine-buying public’s association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening,

Notice that word "since" - this portion between the bolds indicates that the second bolded portion depends on the first. This means that the first conclusion is a step toward arriving at the second....the first conclusion is used as a premise to reach the second, main conclusion.

One thing we like to talk about in the Veritas CR classes is "The Why Test" - in CR, conclusions have to be based on premises, so you can find conclusions by making sure that something else in the argument tries to explain "why" a certain statement is true. If there's no reason why, it's given as a premise. If there is a reason why, it's a conclusion (either "main" or "intermediate"). And if one conclusion explains why another is true, then that conclusion is being used as a stepping stone to reach the main conclusion (the one for which the other statements exist to explain "why" it's true).

I believe . It's E .
Below is my reasoning .

Passage analysis .
Many winemakers use cork stoppers; but cork stoppers can leak, crumble, or become moldy, so that those winemakers must often discard a significant proportion of their inventory of bottled wine. Bottlemaster plastic stoppers, which cannot leak, crumble, or mold, have long been available to winemakers, at a price slightly higher than that of traditional cork stoppers.

--Both the above statement are observation or general background information.


Cork prices, however, are expected to rise dramatically in the near future.
---A prediction

Clearly, therefore, winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers.
---Another prediction or claim based on the reasoning stated in the previous statement .

And since the wine-buying public’s association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening, there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers.

---One more prediction or claim based on the reasoning stated in the associated statement .


So basically we found that there are 2 claims in 2 bold face .

claim 1 : winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers.

claim 2 : there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers.

So we need to quickly test whether because of claim 1, claim 2 is correct.


Because
winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers.
there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers.

The above statement is making sense .

So claim 2 will be the main conclusion and claim 1 will be the intermediate conclusion .
and claim 1 supports claim 2 and both are in the same direction .

With this understanding . Lets go for POE.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?


(A) The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

Bold face 1 is incorrect since first one is not supporting what argument opposes
(B) The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument.

Bold face 1 is incorrect since first one is not supporting what argument opposes

(C) The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence in support of that main conclusion.

Bold face 1 is incorrect --since 1st BF is not the main conclusion . Also BF2 is incorrect since the second is the main conclusion

(D) The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a restatement of that main conclusion.

Bold face 1 is incorrect --since 1st BF is not the main conclusion . Also BF2 is incorrect since the second is the main conclusion

(E) The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

-- Yes correct . 1st one is used to support to main conclusion and 2nd one is the main conclusion .

Hence E is my answer .

The first boldface portion is: "Many winemakers use cork stoppers; but cork stoppers can leak, crumble, or become moldy, so that those winemakers must often discard a significant proportion of their inventory of bottled wine."

The second boldface portion is: "And since the wine-buying public’s association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening, there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers."

The first portion is presenting information about the problems with cork stoppers and their impact on winemakers. The second portion is the main conclusion of the argument, which states that there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market.

Given this clarification, the correct roles are as follows:

(E) The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

Understanding the argument -

Many winemakers use cork stoppers; (Fact)
but cork stoppers can leak, crumble, or become moldy, so that those winemakers must often discard a significant proportion of their inventory of bottled wine. - opinion
Bottlemaster plastic stoppers, which cannot leak, crumble, or mold, have long been available to winemakers, at a price slightly higher than that of traditional cork stoppers. - Fact
Cork prices, however, are expected to rise dramatically in the near future. "however" contrast. Opinion
Clearly, therefore, winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers. Intermediate conclusion
And since the wine-buying public’s association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening, Premise
there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers. - main conclusion

Both BF1 and BF2 go in the same direction

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


(A) The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes (no. It's in support of the position that the argument establishes); the second is the main conclusion of the argument. (ok)

(B) The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes;(no. It's in support of the position that the argument establishes) the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument. (No. It's the main conclusion.)

(C) The first is the main conclusion of the argument (No. it is an intermediate conclusion); the second provides evidence in support of that main conclusion. (No its the main conclusion.)

(D) The first is the main conclusion of the argument (No. It is an intermediate conclusion); the second is a restatement of that main conclusion.(restatement of BF1? No. Its a main conclusion)

(E) The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument(ok); the second is that main conclusion.(ok)

­
Situation:
Many winemakers use cork stoppers.

Available Alternative:

Bottlemaster plastic stoppers

Premises:

Cork prices are expected to rise dramatically in the near future.

Cork stoppers can leak, crumble, or become moldy, so that those winemakers must often discard a significant proportion of their inventory of bottled wine.

Bottlemaster plastic stoppers which cannot leak, crumble, or mold, have long been available to winemakers, at a price slightly higher than that of traditional cork stoppers.

The wine-buying public’s association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening.

Intermediate Conclusion:

Clearly, therefore, winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers.

Conclusion:

There is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers.

The position that the argument supports is that Bottlemaster will gain market share. This is the second boldface. The first boldface is an intermediate conclusion supporting the main conclusion.

(A) The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

The argument does not oppose any position.

(B) The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument.

The argument does not oppose any position. The second is the main conclusion of the argument.

(C) The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence in support of that main conclusion.

The second is the main conclusion of the argument, not the first.

(D) The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a restatement of that main conclusion.

The second is the main conclusion of the argument, not the first.

(E) The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

Correct. The first is a conclusion that supports the main conclusion. The second is the main conclusion.

Answer (E)

Discussion on Boldface Questions: https://youtu.be/U57vXdqujkY

Another reason why C is a trap, is that the part which can be the evidence is not in bold!