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- Wed May 04, 2016 11:57 am
#23917
Complete Question Explanation
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (E)
Professor Beckstein’s argument can be summarized as follows:
Answer choice (A): The point at issue is a matter of opinion or judgment, not fact. The two speakers do not disagree over whether sign language is the native language of many Americans, but over whether this fact should preclude students from using sign language to satisfy the foreign language requirement. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): At issue is whether a language native to many Americans can fulfill the foreign language requirement, not whether any American whose native language is not English should be allowed to fulfill the requirement by studying her native language. Given how extreme this proposition is, it is perfectly plausible that both professors will disagree with it.
Answer choice (C): Retaining the foreign language requirement is not an issue in either argument. It is quite likely that both professors will agree that the foreign language requirement is a good idea; they merely disagree over how to fulfill it. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): Neither professor mentions what other American universities do or do not do. This answer choice is entirely outside the scope of both arguments and is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Professor Beckstein is likely to agree with this statement, whereas Professor Sedley will surely disagree with it (he calls the proposition “ridiculous”). Because this answer passes the Agree/Disagree test, it is the correct Point at Issue between the two professors.
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (E)
Professor Beckstein’s argument can be summarized as follows:
- Premise:
Sign Language is the native language of many Americans
Sub. Conclusion: Sign Language is not a foreign language
Conclusion: Sign language does not satisfy the foreign language requirement
Answer choice (A): The point at issue is a matter of opinion or judgment, not fact. The two speakers do not disagree over whether sign language is the native language of many Americans, but over whether this fact should preclude students from using sign language to satisfy the foreign language requirement. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): At issue is whether a language native to many Americans can fulfill the foreign language requirement, not whether any American whose native language is not English should be allowed to fulfill the requirement by studying her native language. Given how extreme this proposition is, it is perfectly plausible that both professors will disagree with it.
Answer choice (C): Retaining the foreign language requirement is not an issue in either argument. It is quite likely that both professors will agree that the foreign language requirement is a good idea; they merely disagree over how to fulfill it. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): Neither professor mentions what other American universities do or do not do. This answer choice is entirely outside the scope of both arguments and is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Professor Beckstein is likely to agree with this statement, whereas Professor Sedley will surely disagree with it (he calls the proposition “ridiculous”). Because this answer passes the Agree/Disagree test, it is the correct Point at Issue between the two professors.