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

Main conclusion: This suggests that recent proposals to allow use of cell phones on airplanes are ill-advised.

A. The given boldface is the intermediate conclusion, not the main conclusion.
B. The statement is supported by the next two lines which follow it.
C. It is an intermediate conclusion, other premises support this, which in turn supports the main conclusion.
D. Correct.
E. Only the first line provides background information.

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

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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