Passage Summary: Since there aren't any official tests to be an 'expert,' anyone who can talk people into believing they know their stuff qualifies for the title.

Conclusion: Nearly any individual has the potential to be considered an expert.

Reasoning: Expertise is not governed by official rules, and the only requirement is successfully convincing others that one possesses qualifications.

Analysis: The columnist has a rather cynical view of expertise, suggesting it's more about the art of the deal than actual knowledge. To make the conclusion that 'almost anyone' can be an expert follow logically, we need to bridge the gap between the 'people' and the 'act of convincing.' The argument assumes that almost everyone is actually capable of convincing others of their qualifications. If most people were too unconvincing to ever pull this off, the conclusion would fail. Look for an answer that guarantees that the ability to persuade others is a trait shared by almost everyone.