16Hit1600
Craft and StructureEasy–MediumResponding to a proposed explanation

Craft and Structure practice question

Text 1 A columnist argues that the town's high-street shops are closing because of online shopping: people simply buy from their screens now. Text 2 A retail analyst points out that the town's shops began closing five years before online shopping became common, when a large out-of-town retail park opened with free parking. Online shopping, she says, accelerated a decline that was already under way.

Based on the texts, how would the analyst in Text 2 most likely respond to the columnist's argument?

  1. A. By arguing that the closures began for a different reason, with online shopping only speeding up an existing trend.Correct
  2. B. By denying that online shopping has had any effect on the town's shops.
  3. C. By arguing that the retail park should be closed.
  4. D. By agreeing that online shopping is the sole cause of the closures.

Answer: A. By arguing that the closures began for a different reason, with online shopping only speeding up an existing trend.

Text 2 dates the decline to the retail park and calls online shopping something that 'accelerated' it — a contributing factor, not the cause.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. By denying that online shopping has had any effect on the town's shops.
Text 2 says online shopping accelerated the decline, so it grants some effect.
C. By arguing that the retail park should be closed.
No recommendation is made about the retail park.
D. By agreeing that online shopping is the sole cause of the closures.
Text 2 explicitly puts the origin elsewhere.

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