Explanation
Reading the question: this question has a novel
characteristic, boldfaced text. The question stem asks for the role of the
boldfaced text, and the answer choices are stated in general, logical terms,
not in terms of the specifics of the argument. Indeed, all boldfaced text
questions have these properties:
1.
A prompt that contains one or more arguments;
2.
A question stem that asks for the role of the
boldfaced statements;
3.
Answer choices that are stated in general,
logical terms.
On boldfaced
questions, you don't need to evaluate the argument. Rather, summarize the role
of the boldfaced statements and how the boldfaced statements are related to the
non-boldfaced statements, and look for your summary in the answer choices.
Creating a filter: we have multiple arguments here.
Opinion-charged words can be our guides. The phrase "many people blame" kicks
off one argument. Then, the phrase, "yet clearly," kicks off an opposing
viewpoint. On the basis of those observations alone, we can construct a filter
to evaluate the answer choices. The boldfaced sentence gives the opinion of
many people, and then the rest of the prompt is the pundit's counterargument.
Applying the filter: matching our prediction with the
answer choices, we find that it's present in (E). The correct answer is (E).
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