Q18

[wj097]

I choose (D) first time around, crossing out (E) without much to bother, but reviewing, I found to have had conveniently neglected the first paragraph entirely when choosing which had much of the authors stance/opinion, and was immersed only with bulk of the content (Pp 2-5) that linearly described the development and main arguments of conflicting viewpoints.

(E) seems to capture authors stance but (D) better describes the bulk of the content...how would you resolve such despair...does the question stem has anything to do with leaning for one side? i.e., "primarily concerned" question would weigh on what bulk of the content is, whereas "primary purpose" question would emphasize author's stance/opinion...just a desperate attempt to reason why (D) is right in this case...

Thx

[maryadkins]

You were right to write off (E) quickly. The author isn't writing this passage to demonstrate weaknesses in the arguments made BY ONE SIDE of the current debate. He/she mourns the evolution over the controversy and how polarized it'd become, but it's not solely critical of one view or the other.

Your'e right that primary purpose questions are more tailored to the author's opinion--I wouldn't think of primarily concerned questions as much different. It's not that (E) captures the author well but fails to address the whole passage; it's that it isn't what the author actually does.

Hope this helps!

[wj097]

You were right to write off (E) quickly. The author isn't writing this passage to demonstrate weaknesses in the arguments made BY ONE SIDE of the current debate. He/she mourns the evolution over the controversy and how polarized it'd become, but it's not solely critical of one view or the other.

Thanks Mary, one follow up. I agree that the author is deploring about the polarization which includes both sides, but I got a general sense that he/she is casting blame on the equillibrium environmentalist for bringing about this polarization in the first place, while even endorsing Marsh type approach.

Now that I read (E), I find the first part more problematic, demonstrate weaknesses in the arguments made by one side of the current debate. The author doesn't expose any weakness per se, but just doesn't like the argument itself if you
know what I mean...what do you think?

[maryadkins]

The author doesn't expose any weakness per se, but just doesn't like the argument itself if you
know what I mean...what do you think?

Yes, this works for me!

As for the other wrong answers by the way:

(A) is wrong because it's not offering possible solutions.

(B) is the opposite of what we want. The author isn't saying both sides are valid.

(C) is wrong because it's not about evaluating which is more persuasive. It outlines the problematic nature of the overall debate itself.