Question 12

Society cannot advance unless some innovators are able to defend their ideas effectively.

Innovators play a crucial role in societal advancement, as their ability to defend their ideas is essential for progress. Without effective advocacy for new concepts, society risks stagnation and may fail to evolve.

A) Society cannot advance unless some innovators are able to defend their ideas effectively.

This option is directly supported by the passage, which implies that the ability of innovators to argue for their ideas is vital for societal progress. The passage suggests that without this defense, the advancement of society is hindered.

B) Initial tolerance of proposals in the past was greater than initial tolerance of today's proposals.

This option is not supported by the passage. The text does not discuss or compare the levels of tolerance for past versus present proposals, making it irrelevant to the conclusion drawn from the passage.

C) The views held by upholders of the status quo are less defensible than those held by innovators.

While the passage may suggest a challenge to the status quo, it does not explicitly state that the views of upholders are less defensible. Thus, this option does not align with the main conclusion supported by the text.

D) Innovators are unwilling to admit that what seems to be a novel idea may once have been accepted as the status quo.

This statement introduces an assumption about the mindset of innovators that is not addressed in the passage. As such, it does not reflect the key message regarding the importance of defending new ideas.

E) The views held by the upholders of the status quo are not defensible because they represent outdated thinking.

While this option touches on the theme of outdated ideas, it fails to capture the core emphasis of the passage, which centers on the necessity of innovators defending their ideas for societal advancement.

Conclusion

The correct answer, A, clearly reflects the passage's assertion that the defense of innovative ideas is essential for societal progress. Other options either misinterpret the passage or present ideas that are not supported by the text, highlighting the importance of a strong argumentative basis for new proposals in the context of societal evolution.