Commentator: In many countries the

Answer choices

1. A

   Strengthens6% picked this

   New national identities are often forged out of conflicts among

   In the highly pluralistic and diverse modern culture being described, you’d be likely to see conflicts among diverse groups. According to this answer, that can lead to a new national identity, so this strengthens the author’s case that the existing national identities are threatened.

   6%
2. B

   Correct80% picked this

   A stable national identity is typically a composite of a staggering

   Why this is right

   This allows us to argue that our national identities are not threatened. The opposite of a threatened identity is a stable one, and this answer is saying, “Yo, author — most stable national identities have a dizzying array of subcultures like what you just described. So the fact that we have such a staggering number of subcultures isn’t good evidence that national identities are threatened.” In a more formal sense, the author’s reasoning move was if modern culture brings then modern culture staggering number ? threatens national of subcultures identities To weaken this move, choice (B) is showing that the left side is very frequently compatible with the opposite of the right side.

   Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   80%
3. C

   Unclear Impact2% picked this

   The rate of cultural change in most countries will soon

   When answers tell us that stuff fluctuates or that one thing is different from another, it’s often too wishy-washy to make any difference. The fact that rates of cultural change in most countries will soon change drastically is a very strong idea, but change in which direction? It will get even faster, thus adding to the author’s concern? Or it will get much slower, thus subtracting from the author’s concern? If we don’t know whether an answer will strengthen or weaken, then we shouldn’t pick it.

   2%
4. D

   No Impact: preferable4% picked this

   It is preferable to have a pluralistic rather than a monolithic

   This argument has nothing to do with judgments over whether the current national identities are better / worse than are the new fringe movements that are potentially threatening them. We’re only analyzing whether or not national identities are threatened, not whether or not that’s a good / bad thing. To the extent that this is saying it’s preferable to have pluralism, it could strengthen the idea that the rise in pluralism will lead to different / better national cultures.

   4%
5. E

   No Impact: social problems8% picked this

   A culture with a solidified national identity tends to have more social problems than one

   Just like (B), “Stable / solidified” national identity is the logical opposite of a threatened identity. But whereas (B) connects this idea to the premise (staggering number of subcultures), this answer connect this idea to an out of scope concept (more social problems) that doesn’t have any clear relationship to the premise.

   8%