5. The author quoted in Passage 1 would likely argue that the historian's having 'lifted passages from other historians' (sentence 4, Passage 2) is:
Answer: C
The historian's having 'lifted passages from other historians' is far from an isolated incident.
The author quoted in Passage 1 suggests that the issue of plagiarism is widespread, comparing it to cockroaches, where visible cases represent many more hidden ones. This implies that such incidents are not rare occurrences but rather part of a larger, troubling trend in academia.
A) an example of academic collaboration
This option misinterprets the nature of plagiarism. Academic collaboration typically involves mutual consent and acknowledgment of contributions, whereas lifting passages without credit is a violation of academic integrity and does not represent collaboration.
B) deserving of harsh punishment
While the author may agree that plagiarism should be addressed seriously, this option focuses on punishment rather than the prevalence of the issue. The emphasis in Passage 1 is on how often plagiarism occurs and how it is often ignored, rather than the consequences.
C) far from an isolated incident
This option aligns perfectly with the author's perspective in Passage 1, which emphasizes that plagiarism is a widespread issue within academia, with many unseen cases. The quote about cockroaches highlights the idea that for every visible incident, there are many more that go unreported.
D) a comparatively recent problem
This option suggests that plagiarism is a new issue, which is not supported by the context provided. The author indicates that while the consequences of plagiarism have become more severe in recent years, the act itself is not new, as evidenced by the historical context of academic misconduct.
Conclusion
The reasoning in favor of option C is supported by the author's analogy and observations regarding the prevalence of plagiarism in academia. Other options either mischaracterize the nature of plagiarism, focus on punishment rather than its commonality, or incorrectly present the issue as a recent development. Thus, option C is the most accurate reflection of the author's viewpoint.