Often such arguments have the effect of ______ rather than clarifying the issues involved.
 
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】 近义词辨析。根据rather than判断空格处所填单词应与clarify(阐明)意义相反。选项中符合语义和语境的只有obscure,意为“使……含糊”。prejudice“使……有偏见”;tackle“阻碍”;block“阻塞”,均与题意不符。故答案为A。