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linguistic Problem

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linguistic Problem

by sodha.rakesh » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:53 am
No nation can long survive unless its people are united by a common tongue. For proof, we need only consider Canada, which is being torn asunder by conflicts between French-speaking Quebec and the other provinces, which are dominated by English speakers.
Which of the following, if true, most effectively challenges the author's conclusion?

(A) Conflicts over language have led to violent clashes between the Basque-speaking minority in Spain and the Spanish-speaking majority.
(B) Proposals to declare English the official language of the United States have met with resistance from members of Hispanic and other minority groups.
(C) Economic and political differences, along with linguistic ones, have contributed to the provincial conflicts in Canada.
(D) The public of India, in existence sine 1948, has a population that speaks hundreds of different, though related, languages.
(E) Switzerland has survived for nearly a thousand years as a home for speakers of three different languages.

Ans. E
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |
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by maihuna » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:08 am
IMO: E

Obvious choice.

Need to show a counter example where multi lingual people don't result in state failure, option E is one such ex where Switzerland has survived for 1000 years even though its people speak 3 diff languages

Option D about India is close but catch word *different but similar* makes it inferior to option E.
Charged up again to beat the beast :)
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by jaxis » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:14 am
maihuna wrote:IMO: E

Obvious choice.

Need to show a counter example where multi lingual people don't result in state failure, option E is one such ex where Switzerland has survived for 1000 years even though its people speak 3 diff languages

Option D about India is close but catch word *different but similar* makes it inferior to option E.
Good explaination MAIHUNA.
Also ,
Since the question statement talks about long survival...in D vs E...the time comparison also helps us find the answer. (since 1948 vs 1000 years).

Hence E.
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by AIM GMAT » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:18 am
IMO E .


I agree with maihuna , its a choice between D and E .The reasons that made E a better choice are higlighted.

(D) The public of India, in existence sine 1948, has a population that speaks hundreds of different, though related, languages.


(E) Switzerland has survived for nearly a thousand years as a home for speakers of three different languages.

Hope that helps.
Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
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by sodha.rakesh » Fri Jan 21, 2011 1:21 am
Can anyone explain why Option C is wrong?

(C) Economic and political differences, along with linguistic ones, have contributed to the provincial conflicts in Canada.

For me C provides the different reason other than Linguistic...
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by aleph777 » Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:33 am
Sodha,

The CR problems are all about subtlety. I find that reading them almost like a SC question is quiet helpful.

The question asks which answer choice most effectively challenges the author's argument. First, the argument is that a country with a weak linguistic alliance can't survive.

Now when you return to the question, we're looking for the answer that "most effectively challenges." Choice C does challenge the author's argument, but not that well. The GMAT probably expects you to read that "economic and political differences" have contributed to the conflict in Canada. However, a closer reading says, "along with linguistic ones," which means that economic, political, AND linguistic issues contribute to the internal conflict. Choice C does decrease the importance of linguistic differences, but it doesn't throw them out completely.

Choice D and E seem like very good options, and you can differentiate these, too, through their subtleties. Choice D seems good because it says Indians speak hundreds of languages, but at the end is says "though related," implying that these aren't fully distinguished languages, like French and English, but rather dialects. Choice E, however, has no limitations. It says clearly and simply that Switzerland has survived nearly 1000 years, with three "different languages."

Answer E
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