PrepTest 148, Section 4, Question 2
Bell: Commentators in the media are wrong to(63 more words not shown)
Bell and Soltan disagree with(8 more words not shown)
- AKlein's policies have(2 more words not shown)
- BKlein's policies are(1 more words not shown)
- CKlein should step(1 more words not shown)
- DThere are important(7 more words not shown)
- EKlein's policies were(8 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Avoiding a catastrophe sounds like a good result. But does a successful decision settle whether Klein should remain in charge? Bell thinks it does: the criticism is unfair, and Klein is the person needed for future decisions.
What we’re looking for
Soltan accepts the success and challenges what comes next. Even someone who chose effective policies might be unable to act in the future if she lacks political support. Soltan isn't saying the old policies failed; Soltan thinks Klein's political position prevents her from doing the next part of the job. For the disagreement, I'd ask whether she should stay in power. Bell wants her making decisions; Soltan wants her to step down.
Working the answers
- A
They agree that the policies worked. Bell says they avoided a catastrophe, and Soltan explicitly calls them effective. Soltan's objection concerns Klein's ability to make future decisions, not the effectiveness of the decisions she already made.
- B
Bell acknowledges that the policies are unpopular. Soltan doesn't dispute that; the concern about Klein's lack of political support fits with it. Neither speaker gives us the opposite position that the policies are popular. They differ over what Klein should do given her position.
- CCorrect
Soltan explicitly says Klein should step down. Bell says Klein is just the person needed to make important decisions in the future, which supports her staying. This puts their opposing recommendations into one statement: Soltan agrees with C, while Bell disagrees.
- D
Both expect important decisions in the future. Bell wants Klein making them, and Soltan thinks her lack of support will prevent her from doing so. The disagreement is about the decision-maker, not whether decisions will be needed.
- E
Bell says the policies avoided an impending catastrophe. Soltan grants their effectiveness without saying what danger prompted them or what they prevented. Silence about that context isn't disagreement with Bell's account. We need opposing positions, as we have in C.
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