Reading comp PrepTest 137 · Section 1 · Question 15

Incorrect. The stimulus doesn't establish that researchers know failing to share research will cause suffering.

Incorrect. There's no indication that the most important moral principle is to prevent human suffering, so there's no guarantee this principle applies in this situation.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Research results not shared → Medical treatments delayed → Needless suffering
Therefore - Not sharing research results is wrong

Answer Anticipation:
Strengthen (Principle) questions task us with finding a principle that justifies the judgment in the conclusion based on the details in the premises. Let's start with that judgment and work backwards to find the relevant detail.

Here, the Doctor's conclusion is that failing to share research results is wrong. Why? Based on the premises, it's because doing so delays medical treatments, thus resulting in people suffering unnecessarily. Either of those details could legitimately justify the conclusion, so we should look for either being connected to an action being wrong, but these questions do tend to use all premises, so the most likely answer is:

Anything that causes unnecessary suffering is wrong.

Answer Explanation:
The stimulus notes that sharing research information may aid in the development of medicine, which might prevent unnecessary suffering, so this answer choice applies. And it guarantees that researchers shouldn't fail to share the information, which means doing so would be wrong. This answer, therefore, justifies the Doctor's conclusion.

Key Takeaway:
In a Strengthen (Principle) question, it's generally fastest to start with the judgment in the conclusion and then identify what details the author clearly believes justifies it. The correct answer will then connect those ideas.

Incorrect. Since the argument doesn't discuss other moral obligations—one of which might be to follow rules you agree to in the course of employment—this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. The conclusion is about what it would be wrong for researchers to do, not what is wrong for the employers/companies to do, so this answer applies to the wrong group.