Logical reasoning PrepTest 120 · Section 1 · Question 16

Incorrect. This answer is too extreme in saying that hypocrisy drives people to believe that "no one" is morally blameless. It encourages people to see hypocrisy in others when exposed, and encourages "others" to be better. And when it isn't exposed, it causes "most" to try to be better. None of those statements are strong enough to support this answer.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Must Be True

Stimulus Summary:
Hypocrisy exposed → Hypocrites are embarrassed, motivating people to be better
not Hypocrisy exposed → People believe that most people are good, motivating people to be better

Answer Anticipation:
This stimulus presents two rules—one that explains the result of hypocrisy being exposed, one that explains the result of hypocrisy not being exposed. In both cases, we end up at the same place—people are motivated to be better.

Since the two conditional represent all possibilities—hypocrisy will either be exposed or not be exposed—then no matter what happens with an instance of hypocrisy, people will be motivated to be better. Let's find an answer drawing that conclusion.

Answer Explanation:
If hypocrisy is exposed, it results in people trying to be better. If hypocrisy isn't exposed, it results in people trying to be better. So no matter what happens with an instance of hypocrisy, people will be motivated to be better. Thus, hypocrisy itself results in people trying to be better—so this answer is correct.

Key Takeaway:
While rare, the LSAT does on occasion bring up two conditionals that have "comprehensive" sufficient conditions—they represent all possibilities. The two are almost always the negation of each other. When this happens, the relationship between the necessary conditions can tell you something about all possible outcomes. Here, since the outcomes were the same in both situations, it could be concluded that that outcome was inevitable.

Incorrect. There's no indication that one person engaging in hypocrisy causes moral lapses in others. In fact, the stimulus states that hypocrisy motivates others to be better.

Incorrect. There's no way to "rank" the two possibilities (exposing hypocrisy or not exposing hypocrisy), so this answer stating that hiding it is "better" is incorrect.

Incorrect. This answer is wrong in stating that hypocrisy is the strongest motivator for people improving themselves. While it is a motivating factor, no others are mentioned, nor is there any language backing up the strength of this answer, so it's incorrect.