Q18

[jqz]

I'm a bit confused as to why (A) is the right answer.
In choice (A), the athletes continue to employ training techniques EVEN THOUGH they know that the techniques are unlikely to be effective (or am I interpreting the answer choice wrongly?)

This seems to deviate from the attitudes of plaintiffs who pursue sex discrimination lawsuits. Lines 21-22 say that "plaintiffs who believe that their cause is just and THAT THEY WILL PREVAIL are not swayed by such evidence" leading me to believe that they DO believe the techniques will be effective, which is different from what the athletes in choice (A) believe.

[ohthatpatrick]

If we follow the search terms of "plaintiffs in sex discrimination cases" back to 19-22, we see a couple facts about this group:
- the odds are clearly against them
- they are not swayed by such evidence
(because they believe their cause is just and that they'll win)

(A) maybe
- know something is unlikely to be effective
- not swayed by such evidence

(B) no, nothing about "odds clearly against them"

(C) same as (B)

(D) hmmm, does "believe large numbers helps" match "odds are clearly against them"? No.

(E) maybe
- know they're unlikely to win (odds are against them)
- buy a ticket anyway

The big difference between those two is that the people in (A) (like the plaintiffs in the passage) go against the odds in defiance, in hope/expectation of benefit.

The people in (E) go against the odds with no hope/expectation of benefit, other than the warm fuzzies of donating to charity.

Correct answer: (A)