PrepTest 138, Section 3, Question 15
Anyone who knows Ellsworth knows that he is(43 more words not shown)
The conclusion drawn above follows(9 more words not shown)
- AEveryone suspects self-righteous(6 more words not shown)
- BEllsworth has been(6 more words not shown)
- CHypocrites often hide(3 more words not shown)
- DEllsworth is in(5 more words not shown)
- EEveryone expects self-righteous(5 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
He thinks highly of his own morality. Does that tell his acquaintances how he'll react to an accusation?
Ellsworth praises his generation's idealism while criticizing the previous generation's greed. Anyone who knows him recognizes that self-righteous attitude. But the conclusion is about those people's expectations: none will be surprised that the media's accusations offend him.
What we’re looking for
That's the gap to bridge. Knowing that someone is self-righteous must give people a reason to expect an offended reaction. The question asks for a rule that makes the conclusion about people's lack of surprise follow.
Working the answers
- A
Suspecting Ellsworth of unethical behavior isn't the same as expecting him to be offended when accused. Someone could believe he acted badly and still be surprised by his reaction. A connects self-righteousness to suspected misconduct, which isn't the connection the conclusion needs.
- B
A previous accusation tells us nothing about how he reacted or what his acquaintances expect now. Maybe earlier accusations offended him; maybe they didn't. B leaves the necessary expectations unstated, so repetition alone doesn't establish the conclusion.
- C
We aren't told that Ellsworth is a hypocrite. Even if he were, 'often' would not establish how everyone who knows him expects him to react. Hiding behind indignation also describes a possible tactic, not necessarily genuine offense. This rule doesn't bridge the stated facts to the particular conclusion.
- D
Innocence settles a different question. Even if Ellsworth did nothing wrong, we would still need to know why everyone who knows him expects this reaction. Being innocent doesn't, by itself, establish what those people anticipate.
- ECorrect
Everyone expects self-righteous people to be easily offended. Anyone who knows Ellsworth knows he is self-righteous, so those people expect him to be easily offended too. His offense at accusations of unethical conduct therefore won't surprise them. E supplies the expectation connecting what they know about his character to the conclusion about their response.
More Sufficient Assumption questions
- PrepTest 138, Section 2, Question 23Sufficient Assumption
- PrepTest 138, Section 4, Question 22Sufficient Assumption
- Logical Reasoning Drill Set 10, Question 1Sufficient Assumption
- Logical Reasoning Drill Set 12, Question 4Sufficient Assumption
- Logical Reasoning Drill Set 13, Question 1Sufficient Assumption
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Sufficient Assumption questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.