Logical reasoning PrepTest 144 · Section 3 · Question 23

Incorrect. This answer can justify that a country isn't a well-functioning democracy if we take the contrapositive. However, while the stimulus establishes that this bill is favored by most people, it doesn't establish that it would benefit most people, just that it would adversely affect an influential few.

Incorrect. Close! This answer can justify the conclusion that a country isn't a well-functioning democracy if we take the contrapositive of it. However, when we do so, we can see that the sufficient condition is that a bill opposed by the influential but supported by a majority won't eventually pass into law. The stimulus only establishes that this bill won't be passed "for many years," so it misses the mark. (Yes, the stimulus does say, "if at all"—but that's an if, not a certainty, as this answer would require to apply.)

Incorrect. This answer choice aligns with the scenario in that a bill that is popular but opposed by the influential won't pass soon. However, the conclusion is that this happens in a democracy that isn't well-functioning, whereas this answer states that it happens in one that is.

Incorrect. This answer allows a conclusion to be drawn about the bill, not the democracy.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
A bill is popular and doesn't violate rights, but the influential would be hurt by it, so it won't pass anytime soon. Thus, this democracy isn't well-functioning.

Answer Anticipation:
For Strengthen (Principle) questions, it's important to identify the judgment in the conclusion and then identify the premises that the author believes supports that judgment.

Here, the main point of the argument is that the democracy in question (if it's a democracy at all) isn't a well-functioning democracy. Why? Because a popular bill that doesn't violate anyone's rights won't pass in the near future because it hurts those who are influential. The correct answer should connect these ideas:

If a popular bill that doesn't violate human rights won't pass soon because of opposition by influential people, then the democracy isn't well functioning.

Answer Explanation:
This answer takes some unpacking, but we can break it down into: If you're in a well-functioning democracy and a bill is under consideration that is favored by most and doesn't violate human rights, then it'll be passed into law promptly. Therefore, if such a bill doesn't pass into law promptly, you're not in a well-functioning democracy. Such a bill isn't passing into law in this democracy, so it therefore can't be a well-functioning one.

Key Takeaway:
The more complicated the argument in a Strengthen (Principle) question, the more important it is to start at the conclusion and work backwards to see what details are raised that support that judgment. Use this process to avoid getting lost in these arguments!