PrepTest 128, Section 2, Question 14
A promise is defined as any agreement that(44 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(10 more words not shown)
- APaul agreed to(29 more words not shown)
- BFelicia agreed to(42 more words not shown)
- CMika agreed to(41 more words not shown)
- DQuinn agreed to(48 more words not shown)
- EIan agreed to(49 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
The passage defines a promise as an agreement that creates an obligation. It then gives two circumstances in which failing to fulfill that obligation is acceptable: the person receiving the promise releases you, or circumstances beyond your control make fulfillment impossible.
Suppose I promise to pick up a friend at the airport. If my friend says, 'Don't worry about it; I'll take the bus,' the first condition applies. If my car breaks down and I cannot make the pickup, the second applies. I don't need both conditions at once.
What we’re looking for
For this application question, look for one of those routes to an acceptable failure to keep a promise. Also notice the direction of the rule: these circumstances are enough to permit nonperformance. The passage doesn't say that they are the only circumstances that could justify it.
Working the answers
- A
Paul has promised to lend Tom money and owes Maria money. The principle doesn't tell us which obligation takes priority. More fundamentally, A declares it unacceptable to keep a promise, while the stated principle gives circumstances in which not keeping one is acceptable. We have no rule supporting A's conclusion.
- BCorrect
Felicia promised to tutor Alan on Tuesday, but Alan's accident made him unable to attend. His inability prevents that tutoring session through circumstances beyond Felicia's control. That matches the second permission: it is acceptable for her not to fulfill the obligation that day.
- C
Mika promised to help on Sunday. Owen's request to switch to Saturday doesn't itself create a promise by Mika to help on Saturday. The principle provides no basis for declaring refusal of that new request unacceptable. Changing what is requested doesn't automatically change what was promised.
- D
Laura's failure to provide the keys creates an obstacle outside Quinn's control. On the circumstances described, that supplies the second route to acceptable nonperformance. D incorrectly treats Laura's express release as necessary, overlooking the separate permission for inability caused by circumstances beyond the promisor's control.
- E
Ian chose to return his library books first. His inability to make the pickup results from his own decision, so the answer doesn't establish an obstacle beyond his control. Nor are we told that Ali released him. E therefore doesn't establish either stated basis for its conclusion that the failure was acceptable.
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