#14 - Concept Reference, Must Be True, Author's Perspective

[8scn]

Hello

Why is A correct? I chose B. I excluded A because isn’t A saying that the author is convinced that an exact match is anything but impossible to achieve, meaning that it is possible to achieve? But in the text, I got the impression that the author was saying that it is NOT possible to achieve an exact match (lines 33-35).

[Steve Stein]

Thanks for your question. There is an important difference between "anything but impossible" (which means certainly not impossible) and "all but impossible" (which means basically impossible). Consider a situation in which a sports commentator says "this game is all but over." Basically, it's all done.

Correct anwer choice A actually reflects the author's opinion that getting an exact match is "all but impossible." That is, basically impossible.

Let me know if this important distinction is clear.

Thanks!

[eober]

Hi,

For answer choice A, I am confused about what "exact match is ALL but impossible" means? Is it the same as simply saying "exact match is impossible"?

Thanks for the clarification!

[David Boyle]

Hi,

For answer choice A, I am confused about what "exact match is ALL but impossible" means? Is it the same as simply saying "exact match is impossible"?

Thanks for the clarification!

Hello,

It means "very nearly impossible", not "impossible".

David