单选题 36. Cuts that need to be held closed in order to heal properly have generally been held closed with stitches. However, pressure to reduce medical costs is mounting. Consequently, it is likely that a newly developed adhesive will become the routine method of holding most types of cuts closed. The new adhesive holds most types of cuts closed as well as stitches do, and the cost of applying it is comparable to that of closing cuts with stitches. But whereas stitches must generally be removed by medical personnel after the cut has healed, the adhesive simply wears off. Thus, for any cut that the adhesive can hold closed as well as stitches can, it is more economical to use the adhesive.
In the argument given, the two highlighted portions play which of the following roles? ______

A、 The first is a claim that the argument disputes; the second provides evidence against that disputed claim.
B、 The first is a claim that is used as supporting evidence for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.
C、 The first is a claim that is used as supporting evidence for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a conclusion that is drawn in order to support that main conclusion.
D、 The first introduces a practice about which the argument makes a prediction; the second is a conclusion based on that prediction.
E、 The first introduces a practice about which the argument makes a prediction; the second is an assessment that is used to support that prediction.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】 D：第一部分确为文章所做的预测，其预测的行为指的是“用粘合剂”；第二部分是文章的结论，支持了这个预测。
A：第一部分其实是文章所支持的；第二部分是结论而非证据。
B：第一部分前面的Consequently证明它是结论，而非证据。
C：选项C的错误原因同选项B。
E：选项中的used to support是指被用于支持其他人的，那么自己的肯定是原因，但是第二部分在文中是结论。