PrepTest 149, Section 4, Question 13
Rhonda: As long as the cost is not(72 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(13 more words not shown)
- AOne should always(11 more words not shown)
- BOne should treat(9 more words not shown)
- COne should act(6 more words not shown)
- DOne should make(11 more words not shown)
- EOne should always(11 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Both speakers give you a reason that helping others will help you.
Rhonda's comparison is pretty extreme: active charitable participants versus wealthy, miserly hermits. There could be people in between those groups. Still, her offered reason is clear. Helping can make your own life richer, even compared with a prosperous life spent keeping everything to yourself.
Brad focuses on relatives and close friends because they may return the favor when you need help. That is a different benefit to the giver. We don't have to force a disagreement between the speakers about every recipient; Rhonda hasn't precisely defined whom all that generosity must reach.
What we’re looking for
For a principle supporting both arguments, I'd look for a reason to act when doing so benefits you. Rhonda points to a richer life; Brad points to future help. The common connection is the giver's benefit, not simply the fact that someone else receives assistance.
Working the answers
- A
Neither speaker establishes that the proposed behavior produces the most benefit for the most people. Brad's focus on close friends and relatives might help fewer people than another use of the same resources. The arguments don't depend on maximizing the number of beneficiaries.
- B
This links how you treat someone with how you expect that person to treat you. Brad's reciprocity discussion may make it sound familiar, but Rhonda's richer-life benefit doesn't require charitable recipients to treat her in a matching way. B doesn't capture the broader personal benefit that can support both arguments.
- CCorrect
Act in ways that benefit yourself. Rhonda says charitable activity enriches the giver's life; Brad says generosity toward close contacts can bring help back to the giver. C connects each stated benefit to the recommendation to be generous in the described way. We don't have to decide that self-interest is the only good reason to help people; we are identifying a principle that supports these particular reasons.
- D
Rhonda doesn't require recipients to return the favor. Her stated benefit is a richer life through participation itself. Also, saying that repayment is required for a sacrifice doesn't by itself tell us to make every sacrifice that would be repaid. D supplies a restriction, not the common positive reason both speakers use.
- E
Pride might be one feeling someone gets from generosity, but neither speaker uses it as the reason for the recommendation. Brad's expected assistance and Rhonda's richer life aren't automatically claims about reflecting proudly on an action. E introduces a different standard.
More Strengthen questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Strengthen questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.