Logical reasoning PrepTest 102 · Section 4 · Question 14

Incorrect. The argument says that we shouldn't destroy books—in other words, we shouldn't take an action. This answer is about devoting effort to perform an action.

Incorrect. The stimulus doesn't note that past generations preserved books "for" our enrichment—that ascribes a reason to the preservation. Since the stimulus doesn't discuss why past generations may have preserved books, this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. First, the stimulus is about a moral obligation, not a moral commitment made. Second, there's no discussion of the present generation and any duty owed to them, making this answer doubly out of scope.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Preserved books - Enrich future generations
Judgment - Moral obligation to not destroy books

Answer Anticipation:
Strengthen (Principle) questions frequently make judgments in conclusions based on details in the premises. In general, you should start with that judgment, and then find the information that the author presents to justify it.

Here, the judgment is that there is a moral obligation not to destroy books. Why? Because those books will "almost certainly contribute" to enrichment of future generations.

The correct answer, then, should connect that future enrichment to creating a moral obligation to preserve books.

Answer Explanation:
This argument directly connects the premise to the judgment in the conclusion. The argument establishes that books enrich future generations ("our posterity"), and this answer establishes that such things should be preserved—as the stimulus concludes.

Key Takeaway:
Strengthen (Principle) questions tend to have judgments in the conclusion based on details in the premises, with correct answers that connect them. Especially for earlier Strengthen (Principle) questions, the correct answer can seem to simply restate the argument. Don't shy away from such an answer! It's likely correct.

Incorrect. The stimulus is about "future generations." At a certain point, we're guaranteed not to know the people in those generations.