PrepTest 115, Section 2, Question 12
Politician: It is wrong for the government to(37 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(8 more words not shown)
- AIt is not(14 more words not shown)
- BIt is not(19 more words not shown)
- CIt is offensive(16 more words not shown)
- DIt is not(9 more words not shown)
- EIt is not(16 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Something can be offensive without being harmful. For this question, that's a distinction the politician gives us, whether or not we'd draw the same line in real life.
The politician's rule is that the government shouldn't restrict people's liberty, with a possible exception when leaving them free would allow harm. Think of restricting a dangerous person's freedom to prevent an attack. That illustrates the kind of case the exception could cover. But “perhaps” matters: the politician leaves open whether restriction is justified even in a harmful case.
Publishing is a liberty, and mere offense isn't harm under the stated rule. So if a publication is only offensive, it doesn't fall within even the possible exception. That's the inference I'd predict: the government shouldn't restrict that publication just because it offends people.
What we’re looking for
Keep the target clear as we check the choices. We're inferring a limit on the government's actions, not endorsing every offensive thing an individual might publish.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
A publication that is only offensive isn't harmful under the politician's distinction. Publishing is a liberty, and the rule forbids restricting liberty outside the possible harm exception. The conclusion follows from those statements: restricting literature merely for being offensive is not right.
- B
This makes the possible exception into a definite permission. The politician says “except perhaps” when harm would otherwise occur. That leaves room to consider a restriction in such a case, but doesn't establish that restricting liberty is always acceptable then. B drops that uncertainty.
- C
We aren't told whether a government restriction is itself offensive or harmful. The politician classifies publishing as a liberty and distinguishes offense from harm. C changes the subject by making new claims about the effects of a restriction.
- D
Whether an individual acts wrongly by publishing something and whether the government may restrict it are different questions. A person could publish something objectionable that the government should nevertheless leave unrestricted. The politician's limit on government action doesn't settle the individual's moral conduct.
- E
The possible exception concerns harm, not only serious harm. A publication might cause some lesser harm without causing serious harm, and the politician hasn't ruled out restrictions in that situation. E narrows the exception and therefore prohibits more restrictions than the passage does. “Only offensive” in A avoids that extra claim.
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