CAT 2023 Question Paper | VARC Slot 3

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Question 17 : There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: For theoretical purposes, arguments may be considered as freestanding entities, abstracted from their contexts of use in actual human activities.

Paragraph : ___(1)___. An argument can be defined as a complex symbolic structure where some parts, known as the premises, offer support to another part, the conclusion. Alternatively, an argument can be viewed as a complex speech act consisting of one or more acts of premising (which assert propositions in favor of the conclusion), an act of concluding, and a stated or implicit marker ("hence", "therefore") that indicates that the conclusion follows from the premises.___(2)___. The relation of support between premises and conclusion can be cashed out in different ways: the premises may guarantee the truth of the conclusion, or make its truth more probable; the premises may imply the conclusion; the premises may make the conclusion more acceptable (or assertible).___(3)___. But depending on one's explanatory goals, there is also much to be gained from considering arguments as they in fact occur in human communicative practices.___(4)___.

Explanatory Answer

Option 3 is the most logical place to fit in the given sentence.  The given sentence says that for 'theoretical purposes', arguments may be considered as freestanding entities abstracted from their contexts. The line after option 3 puts forth the alternative view: depending on explanatory goals, there is also much to be gained from considering arguments as they in fact occur in human communicative practices.

The answer is 'Option 3'

Choice D is the correct answer.