Logical reasoning PrepTest 125 · Section 4 · Question 17

Incorrect. This answer reaches a conclusion that Amelia's action was "not wrong." That's not a justifiable conclusion—the principles allow for conclusions of "right" and "wrong" to be reached. (While something that is right is not wrong, the reverse isn't true, so those terms aren't equivalent.)

Incorrect. This answer reaches a conclusion that Jordan's disobedience is wrong, so we should look to the first principle. In that principle, to reach the conclusion, it must be established that Jordan violated a rule of her society and that the rule promotes the general welfare. Here, however, the argument establishes that the rule isn't detrimental to the general welfare. That's not equivalent or sufficient to establish that it promotes the general welfare, so it's incorrect.

Incorrect. This answer reaches a conclusion that Elgin's action is wrong, so we should look to the first principle. In that principle, to reach the conclusion, it must be established that Elgin violated a rule of his society and that the rule promotes the general welfare. Elgin both obeyed a rule and that rule doesn't promote the general welfare, so this answer is incorrect.

Incorrect. This answer reaches a conclusion that Dahlia's action is right, so we should look to the second principle. In that principle, to reach the conclusion, it must be established that Dahlia's action was required by a rule of her society and that the rule promotes the general welfare. Neither of these conditions are established, so this answer is wrong.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Must Be True (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
(1) Violates rule of society where action is performed AND Rule promotes general welfare → Action wrong
(2) Required by rule of society where action is performed AND Rule promotes general welfare → Action right

Answer Anticipation:
Must Be True (Principle) questions generally present two conditional principles that allow similar judgments to be drawn. Our process involves diagramming all principles out, getting those judgments into the necessary condition side (as that's the side that can be justified and thus aligns with conclusions), and then finding an answer that matches it.

Here, each conditional is a bit complex, as the sufficient conditions are relatively long and both are AND statements, but they're already lined up to match with arguments! There are two sufficient conditions for each conclusion—whether a given action is right or wrong. Let's head straight to the answers with these diagrams and see which one lines up with one of them.

Note that our first step is going to be to skim each answer to identify the conclusion. This will let us know which of the two principles would have to apply if it were the correct answer, making it much easier to match the details in the answer with the sufficient conditions.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reaches a conclusion that Edward's action is right, so we should look to the second principle. In that principle, to reach the conclusion, it must be established that Edward's action was required by a rule of her society and that the rule promotes the general welfare. Since both of these conditions are met, this is the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
For Must Be True (Principle) questions, diagram out the principle(s), get the judgments into the necessary condition, and find the answer that aligns with it.