Question

questions 1 through 9 refer to the following.
(the following passage is excerpted from a speech delivered by a united states statesman
in 1930.)
warned by the disaster of the last great war, 1 the statesmen of all nations have been taking
measures to prevent the return of another such calamity. these measures may not
constitute an absolute guarantee of peace, but, in my opinion, they constitute the greatest
preventive measures ever adopted by nations. it is not to be expected that human nature will
change in a day; perhaps it is too much to expect that the age-old institution of war, which
has, through the centuries, been recognized by international law as a sovereign right and has
blackened the pages of history with the story of blood and destruction, will be at once
abolished, but people of all nations should be encouraged by the great progress which has
been made since the war in the furtherance of international peace. i cannot in this brief
address discuss these measures beyond enumerating them. there is the league of nations,
2 which has been functioning for ten years and which, i am sure, has been most beneficial in
adjusting many difficult international problems; the pact of paris, 3 arbitration treaties,
conciliation treaties; and the court of international justice. 4 and i might add that
commendable progress has been made toward reduction of armament. each one of these
treaties is a step for the maintenance of peace, an additional guarantee against war. it is
through such machinery that the disputes between nations will be settled and war
prevented.
it is not my intention today to discuss the pact of paris, which has passed into history,
perhaps i should not say it has passed into history but has been cemented in the
5 □ mark for review
which of the following best characterizes the relationship between the first and the second
paragraphs?
a the first paragraph states the disadvantages of engaging in war
to settle international disagreements; the second paragraph
discusses an alternative method of resolving such
disagreements.
b the first paragraph offers a generalization about the darker
aspects of human nature; the second paragraph identifies a
possible counterexample.
c the first paragraph highlights the destructive impact of war on
societies; the second paragraph elaborates on how a certain
mindset mentioned in the first paragraph impacts the likelihood
of war

Explanation:

The first paragraph talks about preventive measures for peace and the drawbacks of war (like it's not an absolute guarantee). The second paragraph then gives a counter - example (the Pact of Paris which was functional for ten years but had issues). So, the first paragraph offers a generalization (about peace measures and war as a non - guarantee) and the second identifies a possible counterexample.

Answer:

B. The first paragraph offers a generalization about the darker aspects of human nature; the second paragraph identifies a possible counterexample.