挺難的。
Cuts that need to be held closed in order to heal properly have generally been held closed with stitches. However, pressure to reduce medical costs is mounting. Consequently, it is likely that a newly developed adhesive will become the routine method of holding most types of cuts closed. The new adhesive holds most types of cuts closed as well as stitches do, and the cost of applying it is comparable to that of closing cuts with stitches. But whereas stitches must generally be removed by medical personnel after the cut has healed, the adhesive simply wears off. Thus, for any cut that the adhesive can hold closed as well as stitches can, it is more economical to use the adhesive.
In the argument given, the two highlighted portions play which of the following roles?
A. The first is a claim that the argument disputes; the second provides evidence against that disputed claim.
B. The first is a claim that is used as supporting evidence for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.
C. The first is a claim that is used as supporting evidence for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a conclusion that is drawn in order to support that main conclusion.
D. The first introduces a practice about which the argument makes a prediction, the second is a conclusion based on that prediction.
E. The first introduces a practice about which the argument makes a prediction; the second is an assessment that is used to support that prediction.
答案：E
解析見下。
Cuts that need to be held closed in order to heal properly have generally been held closed with stitches.
第1句：需閉合才能良好癒合的傷口一般是用縫線來閉合的。
【需閉合才能良好癒合的傷口一般是用縫線來閉合的】——這是客觀存在的現象，是個事實；事實應看作論證的前提，不可否認。
However, pressure to reduce medical costs is mounting.
第2句：然而，減少醫療花費的壓力在增加。
換句話說，上面那種方式有點貴，現在我們需要省錢。針對省錢的需求，作者開始發表他的【想法】。
Consequently, it is likely that a newly developed adhesive will become the routine method of holding most types of cuts closed.
第3句：因此，有可能一種新發明的黏膠將成為閉合大多數傷口的常規方法。
注意，這是作者的想法，作者的觀點，作者的結論——簡潔改寫一下，就是作者認為，【新黏膠能代替常規方法】。作者目前還沒給出論證過程，還沒說服我們憑什麼新黏膠能代替常規方法。
The new adhesive holds most types of cuts closed as well as stitches do, and the cost of applying it is comparable to that of closing cuts with stitches.
第4句：這種新黏膠能把大多數種類的傷口閉合得和縫線一樣好，並且花費也相當。
作者開始論證了：初始費用相當，治療效果差不多，新黏膠和常規方法打個平手。
那我們就要問了，差不多的東西，為什麼要用新黏膠替換掉常規方法？
But whereas stitches must generally be removed by medical personnel after the cut has healed, the adhesive simply wears off.
第5句：但是，當傷口癒合之後，縫線一般必須要由醫務人員來移除；黏膠會簡單地自行脫落。
作者繼續論證：新黏膠不同之處：不需移除。
Thus, for any cut that the adhesive can hold closed as well as stitches can, it is more economical to use the adhesive.
第6句：因此，對任何黏膠能和縫線閉合得一樣好的傷口來說，使用黏膠更經濟。
作者繼續論證：不需移除就可以省掉後續花費。所以新黏膠相比舊方法有優點。
那我們就明白了。新黏膠治療效果差不多，整體費用便宜一些。作者的觀點得到了支持。結論成立。
好啦，我們可以用前提——推理——結論的方式整合一下文中信息了。
Premise: 1、對大多數傷口來說，黏膠和縫線閉合得一樣好，並且花費也相當。但黏膠不需要移除。2、存在減少醫療花費的壓力。
Reason: 使用黏膠能減少移除的工序和，從而降低整體花費。
Conclusion(Prediction)：黏膠會取代縫線被廣泛使用。
沒問題吧。看題。
In the argument given, the two highlighted portions play which of the following roles?
在本論證中，兩個高亮部分起到了下列哪種作用？
Cuts that need to be held closed in order to heal properly have generally been held closed with stitches.
第1句：需閉合才能良好癒合的傷口一般是用縫線來閉合的。
——這是前提。
Thus, for any cut that the adhesive can hold closed as well as stitches can, it is more economical to use the adhesive.
第6句：因此，對任何黏膠能和縫線閉合得一樣好的傷口來說，使用黏膠更經濟。
——注意，這不是最終結論。這是論證中的一步，有了它，最終結論才成立。
所以，選E。
E. The first introduces a practice about which the argument makes a prediction; the second is an assessment that is used to support that prediction.
第一個引入了一個本論證做出了相關預測的實踐；第二個是用於支持該預測的一個評估。
【實踐】指的就是客觀存在的現象，也就是【需閉合才能良好癒合的傷口一般是用縫線來閉合的】這個現象。針對這個現象，本文的論證確實做出了【預測】。【預測】指的就是本文的最終結論：作者認為，黏膠會取代縫線被廣泛使用。作者的【評估】是黏膠相比傳統方法更便宜，這個【評估】是用來支持最終結論的。
A. The first is a claim that the argument disputes; the second provides evidence against that disputed claim.
第一個是本論證所否定的陳述；第二個提供了否定該陳述的證據。
本論證哪有【否定】陳述？陳述是客觀存在的現象，不容否定。
B. The first is a claim that is used as supporting evidence for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.
第一個是被用作為本論證的主要結論提供證據的陳述；第二個是該主要結論。
第一個並沒有提供什麼證據，只是在客觀描述現狀。第二個不是主要結論，是論證中間的一步。
C. The first is a claim that is used as supporting evidence for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a conclusion that is drawn in order to support that main conclusion.
第一個是被用作為本論證的主要結論提供證據的陳述；第二個是一個為了支持主要結論而被引出的結論。
第一個並沒有提供什麼證據，只是在客觀描述現狀，是論證的前提。
D. The first introduces a practice about which the argument makes a prediction, the second is a conclusion based on that prediction.
第一個引入了一個本論證做出了相關預測的實踐；第二個是基於該預測的一個結論。
第二個說反了。第二個是在得出該預測前作出的一箇中間結論，不是基於該預測的進一步推理。
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