Critical Reasoning

Many winemakers use cork stoppers; but cork stoppers can leak, crumble, or become moldy, so that those winemakers must often discard a significant proportion of their inventory of bottled wine. Bottlemaster plastic stoppers, which cannot leak, crumble, or mold, have long been available to winemakers, at a price slightly higher than that of traditional cork stoppers. Cork prices, however, are expected to rise dramatically in the near future. Clearly, therefore, winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers. And since the wine-buying public's association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening, there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the marked for wine-bottle stoppers.


In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following
roles?
A. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
B. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument.
C. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence in support of that main conclusion.
D. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a restatement of that main conclusion.
E. The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

prachich1987 wrote:Many winemakers use cork stoppers; but cork stoppers can leak, crumble, or become moldy, so that those winemakers must often discard a significant proportion of their inventory of bottled wine. Bottlemaster plastic stoppers, which cannot leak, crumble, or mold, have long been available to winemakers, at a price slightly higher than that of traditional cork stoppers. Cork prices, however, are expected to rise dramatically in the near future. Clearly, therefore, winemakers who still use cork but wish to keep production costs from rising will be forced to reconsider plastic stoppers. And since the wine-buying public's association of plastic stoppers with poor-quality wine is weakening, there is an excellent chance that the Bottlemaster plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the marked for wine-bottle stoppers.


In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following
roles?

Clearly both boldfaced are Conclusions.

A. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.
B. The first is a judgment that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument.
C. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence in support of that main conclusion.
D. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a restatement of that main conclusion. (Not a Restatement)
E. The first is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.

IMO E

Please go through this video if you have not seen: https://vimeo.com/12238635

E


Main Conclusion: there is an excellent chance that the Bottle master plastic stopper will gain an increased share of the market for wine-bottle stoppers.

1st Boldface: Supports main conclusion (Clearly, therefore, winemakers who still..... so this another conclusion)
Boldface2: Is conclusion
2nd boldface: Is main conclusion

By POE, the answer is E.

E: The first is a preliminary conclusion about the stoppers in general; the second is the main conclusion, derived from the first, regarding the specific stopper in question.

good question may i know the source?

pradeepkaushal9518, you will notice at the top of the very first post, that the question is from "the Sets"; specifically, question 24, set 24. Hope it helps.

As a side note, beware, as the sets have fallen into disrepute.

artistocrat wrote:pradeepkaushal9518, you will notice at the top of the very first post, that the question is from "the Sets"; specifically, question 24, set 24. Hope it helps.

As a side note, beware, as the sets have fallen into disrepute.

I guess Pradeep wants to know in a bit detail (At least I can't make anything out of SET 24) , for e.g. is it from some LSAT set, or Knewton, Veritas , etc... ?

Thanks