Question

Unless you decide your whole life to it, you will never learn to speak the language of another country to perfection; you will never know its people and its literature with complete intimacy. Which of the following is likely to undermine the above argument?

• A. I can speak 10 foreign languages already.
• B. I do not travel to foreign countries.
• C. I am happy with the languages I know and do not need to learn any other language.
• D. I should spend time to understand my own people and literature first, only then can I appreciate other languages and cultures.

Hint:

When weakening an argument, look for counterexamples that directly disprove the universal claim made in the premise.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The argument claims that perfection in speaking a foreign language and full cultural intimacy require lifelong dedication. This is an absolute claim that leaves no room for exceptions. - Option (a) gives a direct counterexample: someone can already speak 10 foreign languages, implying that mastery is possible without lifelong dedication to each. This contradicts the main claim and thus undermines it. - Option (b) is irrelevant because not traveling says nothing about the necessity of lifelong dedication. - Option (c) simply states personal preference, not a challenge to the necessity claim. - Option (d) shifts focus to personal priorities rather than language mastery. Thus, (a) is the only choice that directly attacks the argument’s core assumption.