Editorial: Cell-phone usage on buses and trains is annoying to other

Editorial: Cell-phone usage on buses and trains is annoying to other passengers. This suggests that recent proposals to allow use of cell phones on airplanes are ill-advised. Cell-phone use would be far more upsetting on airplanes than it is on buses and trains. Airline passengers are usually packed in tightly. And if airline passengers are offended by the cell-phone excesses of their seatmates, they often cannot move to another seat.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the editorial's argument by the statement that cell-phone use would be far more upsetting on airplanes than it is on buses and trains?
Main conclusion- recent proposals to allow use of cell phones on airplanes are ill-advised

(A) It is the main conclusion of the argument- incorrect

(B) It is a claim that the argument tries to rebut - incorrect, it does not go against the main conclusion

(C) It is a premise that indirectly supports the main conclusion of the argument by supporting a premise of that conclusion - incorrect, it is not a premise, it is a conclusion that supports the main conclusion

(D) It is a conclusion for which support is provided and that itself is used in turn to directly support the argument's main conclusion - Correct

(E) It provides background information that plays no role in the reasoning in the argument- - incorrect- it isn't background information and it has a role in the reasoning

Answer D

(Introduces Opinion) Editorial:

(Premise) Cell-phone usage on buses and trains is annoying to other passengers.

(Main Conclusion) This suggests that recent proposals to allow use of cell phones on airplanes are ill-advised.

(Conclusion) Cell-phone use would be far more upsetting on airplanes than it is on buses and trains.

(Premise) Airline passengers are usually packed in tightly.

(Premise) And if airline passengers are offended by the cell-phone excesses of their seatmates, they often cannot move to another seat.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the editorial's argument by the statement that cell-phone use would be far more upsetting on airplanes than it is on buses and trains?

(A) It is the main conclusion of the argument.
The main conclusion is the second sentence. The third sentence is a claim supported by the two premises about airline passengers.

(B) It is a claim that the argument tries to rebut.
The argument actually SUPPORTS the claim about cellphone usage being more upsetting on airplanes.

(C) It is a premise that indirectly supports the main conclusion of the argument by supporting a premise of that conclusion
Because it is a mini-claim, it could be premise to support the main conclusion BUT the second half (“by supporting a premise of that conclusion”) makes no sense, since the premise of the main conclusion IS the mini-conclusion. Also, the mini-conclusion/premise DIRECTLY supports the main conclusion.

(D) It is a conclusion for which support is provided and that itself is used in turn to directly support the argument's main conclusion.
Yes, support is provided for the mini-conclusion…which is used to DIRECTLY support the main conclusion. Correct!

(E) It provides background information that plays no role in the reasoning in the argument.
Background information is generally fact-based. The bold face is clearly a claim.

Intermediate conclusion(A):Cell-phone use would be far more upsetting on airplanes than it is on buses and trains.

Final conclusion(B): Recent proposals to allow use of cell phones on airplanes are ill-advised
Therefore Test:
Because (A), therefore (B).
Reverse A, B and the test fails.

Answer D

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