ETS asks the reader to separate ideas the author firmly holds from ideas advanced as hypothetical or speculative. Which set of cues most directly signals that an idea is being floated rather than committed to?
A'Therefore', 'thus', 'in fact', 'clearly'
B'Perhaps', 'might', 'one could argue', 'arguably'
C'First', 'second', 'finally', 'next'
D'Above', 'below', 'in the passage', 'in line 4'
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. 'Perhaps', 'might', 'one could argue', 'arguably'
Hedging modals and quantifiers ('perhaps', 'might', 'arguably') flag claims the author is advancing as speculative. 'Therefore' and 'thus' signal commitment to the conclusion. The other sets are sequence or positional cues, not stance cues.
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