PrepTest 152, Section 4, Question 18
Etiquette helps people to get along with each(37 more words not shown)
The statements above, if true,(8 more words not shown)
- AMany people who(7 more words not shown)
- BMany people have(8 more words not shown)
- CMany people who(10 more words not shown)
- DIf people were(9 more words not shown)
- EKindness and social(6 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Saying 'please' and 'thank you' or avoiding an intrusive personal question can help people get along. That makes the opening claim understandable: etiquette can prevent accidental offense.
What we’re looking for
I might ask how every particular rule relates to kindness or harmony, but the question asks what follows if the statements are true. We are given that etiquette helps people get along. We are also told that many critics believe it has no beneficial effects. Those critics are missing a benefit the passage has already established. That is the conclusion I'd expect.
Working the answers
- A
Being mistaken about etiquette isn't the same as holding contradictory views about it. Someone could consistently believe social harmony is good and believe etiquette does nothing to promote it. The passage says that second belief is wrong, but it doesn't show that the person also believes its opposite. Their belief conflicts with the stated facts, not necessarily with another belief of their own.
- B
We don't know that these critics respect etiquette. They might dislike it precisely because they think it has no benefits. Appreciating kindness and harmony doesn't establish respect for something they fail to recognize as helpful.
- CCorrect
The critics say etiquette has no beneficial effects, while the passage says it helps people get along and prevents accidental offense. Those facts establish a benefit, so the critics are mistaken about that aspect of etiquette. We don't need to prove every etiquette rule is valuable or that no criticism could ever be justified.
- D
Greater consideration might help people avoid offense, but we aren't told it would remove every need for etiquette. Considerate people might still appreciate guidance about behavior others find offensive. D adds a claim about a hypothetical society that the passage doesn't establish.
- E
The passage attributes a favorable view of kindness and harmony to the critics. It doesn't independently establish the stronger claim that these qualities are highly beneficial to society. C stays with the direct conflict between the stated benefit of etiquette and the critics' denial of any benefit.
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