Coach: Our team has often been criticized for our enthusiasm in response to both our successes and our opponents' ...

Melody on September 6, 2014

The coach states that his team has been criticized for being overly enthusiastic about their wins and their opponents' failures. This behavior of theirs has been referred to as "unprofessional."

This instance of the word is used to mean "immature," or "without decorum." It is not a mature thing to do to celebrate the loss of your opponent. One should win gracefully.

Then the coach points to "professionals" in the sport and says that they are even more effusive than his team. Therefore, his team is not unprofessional in its behavior since professionals act the same way.

However, the "professionals" he is pointing to are athletes who are getting paid to play sports. Whereas the criticism of the coach's team is that they are acting unprofessional as in "immature."

Thus, the coach is misinterpreting the critics' claim that the team is not acting as professionals, i.e. those paid to play sports, as opposed to being unprofessional, i.e. acting immature.

That is why answer choice (B)--"misinterprets the critics' claim that the team is unprofessional"--is correct.

Hope that was helpful! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Sangwook on September 9, 2014

Ouch!!! I must have scrutinized each words carefully!!! Thanks a lot!!