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Identify the Key Information in the Passage
Look for the core message of the passage before worrying about the question:
  • Main Point: The passage challenges the idea that languages are perfect tools for communication.
  • Key Example: Sometimes language causes misunderstandings, e.g., “He took his stick—no, not John’s, but his own.” This shows that even everyday words can create confusion, requiring clarification.
  • Analogy: Just like how supply and demand doesn't always satisfy actual needs, language doesn’t always communicate perfectly.
  • Conclusion: Since no language is perfect, comparing their relative merits is reasonable.
Focus: Misunderstandings caused by language structure or word ambiguity.

Let's evaluate each option:
I. X uses the word “you” to refer to a group, but Y thinks that X is referring to one person only.
  • This is an ambiguity built into the language. English "you" doesn't distinguish between singular/plural.
  • Just like in the passage, the structure of the language causes confusion.
    KEEP

II. X mistakenly uses the word “anomaly” to refer to a typical example, but Y knows that “anomaly” means “exception.”
  • This is not a fault of the language—it’s user error.
  • The speaker doesn’t understand the word. That’s misuse, not ambiguity.
    ELIMINATE

III. X uses the word “bachelor” to mean “unmarried man,” but Y mistakenly thinks that bachelor means “unmarried woman.”
  • Again, this is a misunderstanding caused by the listener, not the structure of the language.
  • The meaning is clear in the language—it’s Y who is mistaken.
    ELIMINATE

Correct Answer: (A) I only
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