16Hit1600
Craft and StructureVery hardTwo views on who was to blame for an expedition's failure

Craft and Structure practice question

Text 1 The expedition failed because its leader refused to turn back when the weather changed. Text 2 The leader's journal shows that he proposed turning back on the third day and was overruled by a vote of the whole party, whose survivors later blamed him because he was the only one who did not live to answer.

How would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to Text 1?

  1. A. By arguing that the blame in Text 1 rests on the silence of the one person who could not defend himself.Correct
  2. B. By agreeing that the leader refused to turn back.
  3. C. By denying that the weather changed.
  4. D. By claiming the journal is a forgery.

Answer: A. By arguing that the blame in Text 1 rests on the silence of the one person who could not defend himself.

Overruled, then blamed in his absence.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. By agreeing that the leader refused to turn back.
The journal says he proposed it.
C. By denying that the weather changed.
The weather is not disputed.
D. By claiming the journal is a forgery.
The journal is the evidence.

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