#8 - Quartzbrook Farms wanted to test all of its cattle for

[Administrator]

Please post your questions below!

[bbonds675]

I've tried to understand this question and I'm having some difficulty. The phrasing in the question stem "most at odds" is what is throwing me off a little. I incorrectly chose (C).
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Any insight would be appreciated.

[Adam Tyson]

Happy to lend a hand here, bbonds675. "Most at odds" means in conflict with, violates, or contradicts. This language is common for a Cannot Be True question, which this is (and these are incredibly rare in LR, with many tests having none at all and most others having just one). When we are asked about being "at odds" with a principle, it means we are looking for an answer that violates the principle. In other words, what rule was broken? Find the rule that the government broke, and you have your winner!

Answer C looks like an opposite answer, once we know what we are looking for. The government in this case basically followed that rule - they prevented the testing on the grounds that it would mislead the public. We need a rule that says they should have allowed the testing, because that would be a rule that they broke! Only answer A does that, and that makes it the right answer.

Rare question type, so no surprise it caused some trouble. If it helps (and I might be showing my age here), think about The Odd Couple. Felix and Oscar were an odd couple because they were opposites, in conflict all the time. That's what being "at odds" is all about!

[theamazingrace]

Hi, I also chose C. I understand your explanation that the correct answer should say they should have allowed the testing because that breaks the principle. I am only able to confidently eliminate C, D and B (although the part where it says "and should provide this information to the companies that are considering such testing" is not in the stimulus but still makes sense to cross out as it follows the principle). A and E both say that the testing should be allowed?

Thanks

[Adam Tyson]

Answer E actually has nothing to do with what the government in the stimulus should or should not do, amazing G! It's only about what would be "fair" for a government to do, and it seems to apply to the foreign government in this stimulus and not to the government in Quartzbrook's country. Who cares if it is fair for the other government to require testing? The issue is whether THIS government broke a rule when they said that Quartzbrook could NOT do the test. Only answer A presents a rule that the government in Quartzbrook's country violated.

[aviyakleiman@gmail.com]

Hi,

For some reason, I'm having trouble understanding the stimulus and answer choices. I picked the right answer (A), but I wanted to completely understand why A is correct, as opposed to the other answers. Thank you!

[Amber Thomas]

Hi aviyakleiman@gmail.com!

Let's start by breaking down our stimulus:

Premise 1: Quartzbrook Farms wants to test its cattle for a rare disease so that it can export beef to a country that requires said testing.

Premise 2: The government in Quartzbrook's county prohibited from doing this testing. They did this for two reasons: a) there is no scientific evidence that the risks posed by this disease justify such testing, and b) the public could be misled into thinking the testing was, in fact, scientifically warranted.

Now, we're looking for a principle that would conflict with the government's course of action (i.e. prohibiting the testing).

Answer Choice A states: "Governments can rightfully require product testing deemed necessary to protect public safety but cannot rightfully prohibit testing even if such testing is not justified by the risk involved."

This is our clear answer-- in our stimulus, the government prohibits testing partially because the testing is not justified by the risks of the disease. Answer Choice A states that the government cannot rightfully prohibit testing, even in the event that the testing is not justified by the risks of the disease. Therefore, this cannot be the principle upon which our stimulus is based.

I hope this helps!