- Wed May 04, 2016 10:14 am
#23912
Complete Question Explanation
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (A)
Juan opposes the presence of professional athletes in the modern Olympics because of the unfair advantage they have over amateurs, which violates the spirit of fairness essential to the games. Michiko, on the other hand, argues that the purpose of the games is to showcase the world’s finest athletes, and that therefore professionals should be allowed to compete. The correct answer must focus on this point at issue, and represent a statement with which one of the two speakers is bound to definitively disagree, and the other – to agree. Answer choice (E) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Since Juan opposes the participation of professional athletes and Michiko approves of it, this answer choice passes the Agree/Disagree test.
Answer choice (B): Because Michiko’s argument does not discuss the ancient Olympics at all, this cannot be a point at issue between the two speakers. They disagree about the principle behind the modern Olympics, not whether professionals participated in the ancient games.
Answer choice (C): While Michiko would potentially agree with this statement (or at least agree that the idea behind the modern Olympics is to showcase the world’s finest athletes), we have no indication as to whether Juan believes that the modern Olympics showcase the world’s finest athletes. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): According to Juan, amateur athletes do not have the financial resources available to professional athletes, so he would disagree with this statement. However, Michiko’s argument provides no indication as to whether he would agree or disagree with this position. For all we know, Michiko does not consider the financial imbalance between amateurs and professionals to be an issue.
Answer choice (E): Hopefully, you were able to quickly eliminate this answer choice since neither speaker addresses the role of the government in sponsoring professional and amateur athletes.
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (A)
Juan opposes the presence of professional athletes in the modern Olympics because of the unfair advantage they have over amateurs, which violates the spirit of fairness essential to the games. Michiko, on the other hand, argues that the purpose of the games is to showcase the world’s finest athletes, and that therefore professionals should be allowed to compete. The correct answer must focus on this point at issue, and represent a statement with which one of the two speakers is bound to definitively disagree, and the other – to agree. Answer choice (E) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Since Juan opposes the participation of professional athletes and Michiko approves of it, this answer choice passes the Agree/Disagree test.
Answer choice (B): Because Michiko’s argument does not discuss the ancient Olympics at all, this cannot be a point at issue between the two speakers. They disagree about the principle behind the modern Olympics, not whether professionals participated in the ancient games.
Answer choice (C): While Michiko would potentially agree with this statement (or at least agree that the idea behind the modern Olympics is to showcase the world’s finest athletes), we have no indication as to whether Juan believes that the modern Olympics showcase the world’s finest athletes. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): According to Juan, amateur athletes do not have the financial resources available to professional athletes, so he would disagree with this statement. However, Michiko’s argument provides no indication as to whether he would agree or disagree with this position. For all we know, Michiko does not consider the financial imbalance between amateurs and professionals to be an issue.
Answer choice (E): Hopefully, you were able to quickly eliminate this answer choice since neither speaker addresses the role of the government in sponsoring professional and amateur athletes.