Bunuel wrote:
It is not uncommon for close synonyms to be understood to share the same meaning. The difference between words like hard and difficult, for example, goes tragically unnoticed. One may employ one or the other with complete indifference, postulating no discrepancy between them. In general, this is well and good; most people lack the scrupulous pedanticalness to quibble over such trifles. Nevertheless, for those
people with ample compulsiveness (and time), it is of significant value to comprehend such nuances.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is the primary conclusion of the argument; the second mentions a group of people who are in favor of such a conclusion.
(B) The first is a general statement that is supported by evidence provided in the rest of the argument; the second is one such piece of evidence.
(C) The first states the conclusion of the argument; the second calls that conclusion into question.
(D) The first is a point of view that the argument claims most people will agree with; the second mentions a group of people who would disagree with that point of view.
(E) The first is a claim, the accuracy of which is at issue in the argument; the second mentions evidence falsifying such a claim.
Official Explanation
Answer – D
Argument Summary: The argument states that, for most people, the finer differences between two very closely related words do not matter. However, there are certain people who are very particular about such differences.
Prediction for the two bold parts: The first is a statement that will hold true for most people. The second points out a group of people who will disagree with the first statement.
(A) The first bold sentence is just a statement; it is not really a conclusion. In any case, the group of people mentioned in the second bold sentence are against such a conclusion.
(B) The second bold sentence does not support the first.
(C) Again, the second does not call the first into question; it merely states that there is a group of people who would not agree with the first.
(D) This matches our prediction perfectly and is
the correct answer.(E) Neither is the accuracy of the first statement doubtful in the argument, nor does the second statement falsify the first.
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