1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

Well lets look at the passage and try to understand its primary purpose.

The passage begins by stating the common belief of some linguists, which is that each language is a perfect vehicle for the thoughts of the nation speaking it. The passage then gives an example which runs counter to this belief. It then concludes that no language is perfect and it is reasonable to investigate the relative merits of different languages or of different details in languages.

Thus the primary purpose of the passage is to refute the belief of some linguists that each language is a perfect vehicle for the thoughts of the nation speaking it.


(A) analyze an interesting feature of the English language

Wrong. While the passage does analyze an interesting feature of the English Language (pronoun ambiguity), that is not the primary purpose. That is done to support the primary purpose of the passage.

(B) refute a belief held by some linguists

Correct. Yes, it agrees with the explanation for the primary purpose of the passage that I suggested above.

(C) show that economic theory is relevant to linguistic study

Wrong. While the passage does try to show that the common belief of some linguists is in some ways the exact counterpart of the conviction the Manchester school of economics that supply and demand will regulate everything, that is not the primary purpose of the passage.

(D) illustrate the confusion that can result from the improper use of language

Wrong. First of all, there is no improper use of language. The pronoun ambiguity in the sentence - "He took his stick—no, not John’s, but his own" - is an inherent feature of the English language and the language has been properly used.

(E) suggest a way in which languages can be made more nearly perfect

Wrong. While the passage ends by concluding that no language is perfect and we must investigate the relative merits of different languages, or of different details in languages, it does not suggest a way in which languages can be made more nearly perfect.



2. The misunderstanding presented by the author is similar to which of the following?

I. X uses the word “you” to refer to a group, but Y thinks that X is referring to one person only.
II. X mistakenly uses the word “anomaly” to refer to a typical example, but Y knows that “anomaly” means “exception.”
III. X uses the word “bachelor” to mean “unmarried man,” but Y mistakenly thinks that bachelor means “unmarried woman.”

Lets look at the misunderstanding presented by the author.

He took his stick—no, not John’s, but his own.

The misunderstanding is the result of confusion over whom the first "his" is pointing to. It is clarified later has pointing to "He" and not to "John".

I. X uses the word “you” to refer to a group, but Y thinks that X is referring to one person only.

Correct. This is similar to the error presented in the passage. The confusion is over whom "You" is pointing to. Is it pointing to a group or only one person. It is similar to a "pointer error" in programming context.

II. X mistakenly uses the word “anomaly” to refer to a typical example, but Y knows that “anomaly” means “exception.”

Wrong. Here the misunderstanding is due to a disagreement over the meaning of the word. Not whom or what the word is pointing to. The word "anomaly" is not referencing anybody or anything, it merely means "exception". It is similar to "value error" in programming context.

III. X uses the word “bachelor” to mean “unmarried man,” but Y mistakenly thinks that bachelor means “unmarried woman.” It is similar to "value error" in programming context.

Wrong. Here the misunderstanding is due to a disagreement over the meaning of the word. Not whom or what the word is pointing to. The word "bachelor" is not referencing anybody or anything, it merely means "unmarried man"

(A) I only . Correct Answer
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) II and III only


3. In presenting the argument, the author does all of the following EXCEPT:

(A) give an example

Wrong. He gives an example of a word has to be modified or defined in order to present the idea intended by the speaker - “He took his stick—no, not John’s, but his own.”

(B) draw a conclusion

Wrong. He draws a conclusion in the last sentence - "No language is perfect, and if we admit this truth, we must also admit that it is not unreasonable to investigate the relative merits of different languages or of different details in languages."

(C) make a generalization

Wrong. He makes a generalization in the last sentence. After studying only one example in one language he generalizes thus - "No language is perfect, and if we admit this truth,...."

(D) make a comparison

Wrong. He compares the common belief of some linguists with the conviction of the Manchester school of economics.

(E) present a paradox

Correct. No where in the passage does the author present a paradox.

Paradox - a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.



4. Which of the following contributes to the misunderstanding described by the author ?


Lets look at the misunderstanding presented by the author.

He took his stick—no, not John’s, but his own.

The misunderstanding is the result of confusion over whom the first "his" is pointing to. It is clarified later has pointing to "He" and not to "John".


(A) It is unclear whom the speaker of the sentence is addressing.

Wrong. It is unclear whom the speaker is addressing the sentence to, but that is not the source of the misunderstanding.

(B) It is unclear to whom the word “his” refers the first time it is used.

Correct. Yes, it is unclear to whom the word "his" refers the first time it is used.

(C) It is unclear to whom the word “his” refers the second time it is used.

Wrong. It is very clear to whom the word "his" refers to the second time it is used. It refers to "He", the subject of the sentence. The sentence fragment - "no, not John’s, but his own." - clarifies this.

(D) The meaning of “took” is ambiguous.

Wrong. The meaning of "took" is very clear in this context.

(E) It is unclear to whom “He” refers.

Wrong. It may be unclear to whom "He" refers to, but that is not the cause of the misunderstanding.