GWD 18-20

WalkByFaith

Environmental organizations want to preserve the land surrounding the Wilgrinn Wilderness Area from residential development. They plan to do this by purchasing that land from the farmers who own it. That plan is ill-conceived: if the farmers did sell their land, they would sell it to the highest bidder, and developers would outbid any other bidders. On the other hand, these farmers will never actually sell any of the land, provided that farming it remains viable. But farming will not remain viable if the farms are left unmodernized, and most of the farmers lack the financial resources modernization requires. And that is exactly why a more sensible preservation strategy would be to assist the farmers to modernize their farms to the extent needed to maintain viability.

In the argument as a whole, the two boldface proportions play which of the following roles?

1. The first presents a goal that the argument rejects as ill-conceived; the second is evidence that is presented as grounds for that rejection.

2. The first presents a goal that the argument concludes cannot be attained; the second is a reason offered in support of that conclusion.

3. The first presents a goal that the argument concludes can be attained; the second is a judgment disputing that conclusion.

4. The first presents a goal, strategies for achieving which are being evaluated in the argument; the second is a judgment providing a basis for the argument’s advocacy of a particular strategy.

5. The first presents a goal that the argument endorses; the second presents a situation that the argument contends must be changed if that goal is to be met in the foreseeable future.

我选B,可是答案是D

why?

susanoffice

Part 1:
Goal (first boldface): Preserve land, prevent residential development
Strategy X: buy land from farmers
Problem with strategy X: developers will outbid the organization.
Conclusion: strategy X is not feasible

Part 2:
Judgement (second boldface): farmers will not sell land if farming remains viable
Strategy Y: aid farmers to maintain viability of farming the land
Part 1:
Goal (first boldface): Preserve land, prevent residential development
Strategy X: buy land from farmers
Problem with strategy X: developers will outbid the organization.
Conclusion: strategy X is not feasible

Part 2:
Judgement (second boldface): farmers will not sell land if farming remains viable
Strategy Y: aid farmers to maintain viability of farming the land
Conclusion: strategy Y is more sensible than strategy X

Problem with B: the second boldface doesn't support the conclusion that strategy X is not feasible. The reason stated in the third sentence does.
D highlights the structure: 1 goal, 2 strategies, a conclusion that favors one strategy over the other.
Conclusion: strategy Y is more sensible than strategy X

Problem with B: the second boldface doesn't support the conclusion that strategy X is not feasible. The reason stated in the third sentence does.
D highlights the structure: 1 goal, 2 strategies, a conclusion that favors one strategy over the other.