#14 - Concept Reference, Must Be True, Author's Perspective

[8scn]

Hello

Why is A correct? I chose B. I excluded A because isn’t A saying that the author is convinced that an exact match is anything but impossible to achieve, meaning that it is possible to achieve? But in the text, I got the impression that the author was saying that it is NOT possible to achieve an exact match (lines 33-35).

[Steve Stein]

Thanks for your question. There is an important difference between "anything but impossible" (which means certainly not impossible) and "all but impossible" (which means basically impossible). Consider a situation in which a sports commentator says "this game is all but over." Basically, it's all done.

Correct anwer choice A actually reflects the author's opinion that getting an exact match is "all but impossible." That is, basically impossible.

Let me know if this important distinction is clear.

Thanks!

[eober]

Hi,

For answer choice A, I am confused about what "exact match is ALL but impossible" means? Is it the same as simply saying "exact match is impossible"?

Thanks for the clarification!

[David Boyle]

Hi,

For answer choice A, I am confused about what "exact match is ALL but impossible" means? Is it the same as simply saying "exact match is impossible"?

Thanks for the clarification!

Hello,

It means "very nearly impossible", not "impossible".

David

[bonbon94]

So is A correct becuase the author doesn't beleieve an exact match will ever be possible?

[Jeff Wren]

Hi bonbon,

The phrase "all but impossible" means "very nearly impossible," which is how the author feels about "the goal of having a written language exactly match its oral equivalent."

The support for Answer A in the passage is the author's description of this goal as "a desirable but ultimately frustrating condition that no written language has ever fully satisfied" (lines 33-35). In other words, since this goal has never been fully/successfully achieved, it's essentially impossible for all intents and purposes.