#11 - Global Reference, Must Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (D).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[averifoster1@gmail.com]

I picked A but I was between A & D. I see clearly now that A is wrong, but I am still finding trouble proving why D is right. During the test, I picked A because I could not find enough definite proof from the passage that prescriptivists recognize that the English language is constantly changing. The only thing I saw that came close was the fact that they think encouraging correct usage of language is essential in preventing "a constantly changing language from falling into disarray". However, I did not see proof for the inference that the prescriptivists view English as an example of a constantly changing language. Could someone point me to this?

[Adam Tyson]

That's the proof you need, averifoster1. If the prescriptivists "believe that in so doing they play an essential role in preventing a constantly changing language from falling into disarray," then they must believe that the language is, in fact, constantly changing. Otherwise, that line would have had to say something more like they "believe that in so doing they play an essential role in preventing the language from constantly changing and thereby falling into disarray."

And if you weren't sure about whether they are referring to English in particular, look no further than the example they gave of "data" later in that same paragraph. It's very definitely a discussion of the evolution of the English language, and not just language in general.