Read this sentence from paragraph 3.

Question

While this is a reasonable conclusion to make after reading the claim, it may be totally wrong.

How does the author support this statement?

A.
by comparing the number of basketball teams in Evergreen and South Pines

B.
by explaining that Evergreen has more basketball courts than South Pines

C.
by stating that Evergreen students are more athletic than South Pines students

D.
by showing that Evergreen has a much larger student population than South Pines

Answer 1

To determine how the author supports the statement that a reasonable conclusion may be totally wrong, we should look for an explanation or evidence that contradicts the initial claim or conclusion. Based on the options provided:

A. by comparing the number of basketball teams in Evergreen and South Pines - This could provide context but does not necessarily indicate that the conclusion is wrong.

B. by explaining that Evergreen has more basketball courts than South Pines - Similar to A, this provides information but doesn’t directly challenge the conclusion’s validity.

C. by stating that Evergreen students are more athletic than South Pines students - This would imply a stronger conclusion rather than directly supporting that the previous conclusion may be wrong.

D. by showing that Evergreen has a much larger student population than South Pines - This option suggests a reason for potential differences in basketball teams or courts that might lead to misleading conclusions, effectively supporting the statement about the possible inaccuracy of the initial claim.

Given these assessments, the correct answer is likely:

D. by showing that Evergreen has a much larger student population than South Pines.

This indicates that the size difference could affect the initial conclusion about basketball teams, thus supporting the author's statement that the conclusion may be wrong.