BF Question : What is diff between "Defend" & "Challenge"

[acutetrader]

Could anyone here please explain "What is different between 'Defend' and 'Challenge'" ?

Thank you very much

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Scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty. It is commonly

thought that this happens because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative

capacity. However, a study has found that almost all scientists who produce highly

creative work beyond the age of forty entered their fields late and less than a dozen years

before their creative breakthroughs. Since creative breakthroughs by scientists under

forty also generally occur within a dozen years of the scientist’s entry into the field,

the study’s finding strongly suggests that the real reason why scientists over forty rarely

produce highly creative work is not due to age but rather because most have spent too

long in their fields.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

 

A. The first is the position that the argument as a whole defends; the second is

evidence that is advanced as part of that defense.

B. The first and second are both claims that have been advanced in support of a

position that the argument as a whole opposes.

C. The first is an explanation that the argument challenges; the second provides

evidence in support of a competing explanation that the argument defends.

D. The first is an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is evidence

that has been used against an alternative explanation that the argument defends.

E. The first is an explanation that the argument defends; the second is evidence that

has been used to challenge that explanation.

 

OA : C

 

[gmat168]

Defend and challenge are pretty much the opposite of each other here. To defend an argument is to persuade others why the argument is sound. To challenge an argument means you are arguing against it.

[acutetrader]

wow! thank you so much gmat168

[acutetrader]

a little bit more question :-)

 

Argument criticizes ..... = Argument challenges .....

Am I correct?

 

Thank you

[gmat168]

Criticize is much weaker than challenge. Although both are arguing against an argument in a way, someone can criticize an argument without challenging the argument.

 

For example, you can criticize Starbucks for mass-producing "premium" coffee, but you can still agree that their coffee is great. Or something like that. ;)

[acutetrader]

thank you :D