Logical reasoning PrepTest 124 · Section 2 · Question 6

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Must be True

Stimulus Summary:
Some: Laws establish morality

Author: The primary goal of law is to order society and allow collaboration. Courts have sometimes overruled laws on the grounds of morality.

Answer Anticipation:
This Must be True stimulus features an opposing point (Some argue . . . ") that the Author pivots from. However, note that she never specifically contradicts it. That opposing viewpoint is that laws are made "at least in part" to "help" establish morality. The Author discusses the "primary" purpose of law, and what courts have done "on occasion, so we can't commit her to wholesale disagreeing with what some argue, and thus we should be wary of any answer that states that disagreement.

Instead, we need to rely on the statements that she made. As noted, they're not absolute and only discuss one function (albeit the primary one) and what is done occasionally, so we should shy away from strong answers. The most likely correct answer based on all these factors is a weak generalization describing the law as presented by the Author, so let's be on the lookout for an answer that falls into that category.

Answer Explanation:
This answer is very weak—it talks about what sometimes" happens. If we can find an example of someone applying the law based on the beliefs of those governed by it, we can support this answer. And we have that in the stimulus—the courts make decisions on the application of the law (exceptions counting as a manner in which the law is applied) "on occasion" based on the beliefs of people subject to the laws. Since we have an example in the stimulus that supports this answer, it's correct.

Key Takeaway:
When an Author pivots away from an opposing viewpoint, make sure you understand where she stands on that viewpoint. It's not always as simple as believing that view is wrong or unsupported. As we saw here, the author leaves open the possibility she agrees with that view while believing that there's a more important consideration to discuss.

Incorrect. This is a trap answer. While the opposing view is that a role of law is to define morality, and the author pivots away from that, she never contradicts that statement. Instead, she shifts to discussing the primary function of law, which leaves room for there to be another, less—important function related to morality.

Incorrect. The stimulus notes that the highest courts on occasion" allow exceptions to the law based on religious belief/morality, which is too weak to support an answer about what "tend[s]" to happen.

Incorrect. The Author never states that the law and morality should be wholly separate, so this answer is too strong.

Incorrect. While this may be the primary function of law, that doesn't mean that law is the best means of doing so. The Author doesn't rank different ways of promoting cooperation, so this answer stating that using law to do so is the best way" is too strong/out of scope.