Let's focus on the following sentences in the stimulus:
(1) "Mary Simms, who was representing an outdoor advertising company, declared, "Billboards are the basis of our business. If they are torn down, our ability to earn a living will be severely damaged.'"
Mary Simms is a representative of an advertising company. The basis of the advertisement companies' business is billboards.
(2) "'I don't agree,' said Jack Jordan, a local merchant. 'The basis of our business is an attractive community. People who might shop in Baysville don't want to see ugly billboards on their way into town. Billboards are hurting our ability to earn a living.'"
Jack Jordan is a local merchant. He disagrees with Mary Simms, stating that the basis of the local merchants' business is an attractive community.
So, what was Jordan's faux pas? Mary Simm's was using the word "our" to refer to ADVERTISEMENT COMPANIES, whereas Jordan used the word "our" to refer to the LOCAL MERCHANTS.
Thus, answer choice (C) is the correct answer.
Hope that was helpful! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
DekeJune 1, 2018
I think Naz has a good explanation, but it's like in the instructional video, don't ASSUME anything - confine your thinking to the actual words on the page, and don't assume people are speaking improperly. I got tripped up on this one, and had to think about it for a while, i thought for sure the answer was "basis", but then i realized there was no plural on business, and no one said "our communities business" (which i think could be the way around a plural.
I'm starting to see this is going to require a different mindset from real life, go absolutely literal on everything.
NinahBinahSeptember 14, 2019
Thank you Deke and Naz, those explanations helped. I keep forgetting that I have to change my thinking
