- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Mon Jun 26, 2017 1:42 pm
#36388
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True—Principle. The correct answer choice is (B)
The factory spokesperson argues that the factory should not be required to clean up the pollution
caused by its wastewater because the real offender is the contractor who disposes of the factory’s
wastewater.
Although the argument contains fl aws (for example, couldn’t the factory have selected a more
environmentally conscious contractor?), the question asks you to select a response based on the same
principle, so you must seek the answer choice that best refl ects the reasoning in the stimulus.
A principle is a broad rule that specifi es what actions or judgments are correct in a certain situation,
but a principle does not have to be stated in logical terms, just terms that make sense to you. One
way to state the principle in this problem would be, “we are not to blame since we didn’t actually do
it,” or, perhaps more succinctly, as “let’s pass the buck.”
Answer choice (A): This response implies that parents have a responsibility or interest, which is an
idea contrary to the reasoning in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. Similar to the stimulus, this response is
broadly based on the principle that people should not be held responsible for the independent actions
of others. This response also contains a similar type of fl aw as the stimulus: just as the factory could
have selected a more responsible contractor or taken action to insist on proper disposal, a parent of
an adolescent has had infl uence over the formation of that individual and can take action to insist on
proper behavior.
Answer choice (C): This response attempts to absolve students of a responsibility; however, it
contains no separation between a responsible party and the students. The process of blaming
someone else was a critical part of the principle, so this response is unsatisfactory.
Answer choice (D): Does this answer choice fi t the principle of, “we are not to blame since we didn’t
actually do it?” No, this response merely limits someone’s activity.
Answer choice (E): This response is not at all related to the principle that one not be blamed for
another’s actions. Instead, this answer seems to better characterize a principle such as, “when there is
evidence to the contrary, I will be skeptical.”
Must Be True—Principle. The correct answer choice is (B)
The factory spokesperson argues that the factory should not be required to clean up the pollution
caused by its wastewater because the real offender is the contractor who disposes of the factory’s
wastewater.
Although the argument contains fl aws (for example, couldn’t the factory have selected a more
environmentally conscious contractor?), the question asks you to select a response based on the same
principle, so you must seek the answer choice that best refl ects the reasoning in the stimulus.
A principle is a broad rule that specifi es what actions or judgments are correct in a certain situation,
but a principle does not have to be stated in logical terms, just terms that make sense to you. One
way to state the principle in this problem would be, “we are not to blame since we didn’t actually do
it,” or, perhaps more succinctly, as “let’s pass the buck.”
Answer choice (A): This response implies that parents have a responsibility or interest, which is an
idea contrary to the reasoning in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. Similar to the stimulus, this response is
broadly based on the principle that people should not be held responsible for the independent actions
of others. This response also contains a similar type of fl aw as the stimulus: just as the factory could
have selected a more responsible contractor or taken action to insist on proper disposal, a parent of
an adolescent has had infl uence over the formation of that individual and can take action to insist on
proper behavior.
Answer choice (C): This response attempts to absolve students of a responsibility; however, it
contains no separation between a responsible party and the students. The process of blaming
someone else was a critical part of the principle, so this response is unsatisfactory.
Answer choice (D): Does this answer choice fi t the principle of, “we are not to blame since we didn’t
actually do it?” No, this response merely limits someone’s activity.
Answer choice (E): This response is not at all related to the principle that one not be blamed for
another’s actions. Instead, this answer seems to better characterize a principle such as, “when there is
evidence to the contrary, I will be skeptical.”