Last 3-4-15

Last 3-4-15

15. People who take what others regard as a ridiculous position should not bother to say, “I mean every word!” For either their position truly is ridiculous, in which case insisting that they are serious about it only exposes them to deeper embarrassment, or else their position has merit, in which case they should meet disbelief with rational argument rather than with assurances of their sincerity.

Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

(A) A practice that has been denounced, as poor practice should not be defended on the grounds that “this I show we have always done it.” If the practice is a poor one, so much the worse that is has been extensively used; if it is not poor one, there must be a better reason for engaging in it than inertia

If the practice is a poor one, so much the worse that is has been extensively used; if it is not poor one, there must be a better reason for engaging in it than inertia

这句话我理解的对吗？如果实习做的很糟，那已经被广泛运用了，（所以索性让它糟去），如果不糟糕，肯定有比习惯用的方法更好的方法去做。

here the word "practice" is better translated into 某种做法. WHATEVER, 不影响我们做题

我的理解和你有一丁点不同. 我的理解是, 如果这种做法很糟糕的话, 若说已经被广泛采用, 那就更糟糕了;如果不糟糕的话，(你也不用说"我们已经做了很久了，), 那就应该有比沿袭习惯做法更好的原因

thanks .at least i know what's the difference between our understanding.

原来如此……

I think it means, when the practice is defended by saying this is the way it has always been done,  it shows the result is worse than one would realize because the practice has been done extensively (becuase you say so)