Final answer:
The sentence acknowledging the counterargument about the role of sports in student engagement is (1). Acknowledging different viewpoints is crucial in persuasive writing as it demonstrates thorough consideration of the issue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence that functions to acknowledge the opposition, or the counterargument, in a sample persuasive conclusion is:
1) Many may suggest that sports keep students engaged in learning, that sports force students who...
This sentence starts by presenting what the opposition may argue regarding the value of sports in keeping students engaged, before presumably going on to refute or argue against this point. Acknowledging a counterargument is an important aspect of persuasive writing because it shows that the author has considered multiple viewpoints and has reasons for preferring one over the other.