Op-Ed letter: (Town councils are usually unable to make the right decisions when the town is privy to every vote they cast.) Many citizens are unhappy when the council votes to do things like raise taxes, and many of those unhappy citizens give council-members who vote for tax hikes a difficult time outside of the town meeting. Though (anonymity in voting could give council members the autonomy to vote for legislation that negatively impacts community members), not giving them anonymity makes it impossible for them to vote for legislation that the community really needs.

What roles do the two boldface portions play in the letter-writers argument?

• AThe first is a reason to favor the writers conclusion; the second presents that conclusion  
• BThe first is a pattern of cause and effect the writer thinks is false in this case; the second offer reasons in favor of her prediction  
• CThe first suggests a generalization that the writer thinks is true in this case; the second offers a consideration that weighs against her conclusion  
• DThe first offers a reason in favor of the writers conclusion; the second offers a generalization that she believes holds true in this instance  
• EThe first is a pattern of cause and effect the writer agrees with; the second is the conclusion