Political Analyst: A part that temporarily positions itself

[NMencia09]

Political analyst: A party that temporarily positions itself in the negligible crack between the American right and left will do little to expand the public debate. What America needs is a permanent third party. Some claim that America’s success stems from the two party system. These people say that a third party would make the passage of legislation and thus governance impossible. Furthermore, they point to the current sluggish pace of government as proof that the country cannot bear the burden of a third party. Yet, most European countries have multi-party systems and few complain about any inability to govern there.

Which of the following best describes the functions of the two sections in boldface in the argument above?

A) The first is the main point of the argument; the second is a premise that supports that point.
B) The first opposes the premises of the argument; the second is the claim that the argument supports.
C) The first supports the main position held by opponents of the main point; the second is a premise that argues against that position.
D) The first is the primary claim made by opponents of the main point of the argument; the second is evidence proposed in opposition to the first.
E) The first is a claim made by opponents of the main point of the argument; the second is the claim that the first opposes.

OA: D

My question is more of a strategy-based one. In the first, the word 'claim' is used. If this word is used, does this mean that it is necessarily the main point of one of the arguments? If so, in that case I suppose you should scan the answer choices for words like 'main position' / 'primary claim' etc.?

[jnelson0612]

Noah, that sounds like a pretty reasonable conclusion. If someone is "claiming" something that claim is likely either the main point of the argument OR it is a position that is opposed by the author of the argument and goes against his/her main point. I think that looking for such words is likely to be a smart strategy. :-)