[单选题] Read the passage about argument identification and then choose from (a), (b), (c), (d) for the blanks: 
Argument identification and argument analysis cannot be separated very   (1)   – that is, they are   (2)   procedures. We need to identify when an argument is being made and what it is about before we can analyze its structure. In fact, as we shall see, the first step in analyzing an argument involves the   (3)   of its major parts. I shall provide some simple rules to follow here. Most rules will be coupled with a “question” which should help in the   (4)  application of that rule to some given argument.
An argument is any group of   (5)   that support or give evidence for another proposition. From this definition of an argument we can extract three important points: a) an argument’s structure is going to consist of two basic components: the   (6)  , or what we are being persuaded to do or believe; and the main   (7)  , or the evidence that is supposed to persuade us; b) an argument has a function – to try and persuade someone of something using reason; and, c) there will be some structural relation between the   (8)   and the conclusion – the way in which the evidence supports the conclusion. We should note here that the evidence or reason supporting the conclusion does not have to be good – bad evidence or reasons make for a bad argument, but it is still an argument.
      
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