Logical Reasoning

PT118 · S1 · Q17 In practice the government will

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In practice the government will have the last word on what an individual’s rights are, because its police will do what its officials and courts say.

Conclusion

But that does not mean that the government’s view is necessarily the correct view.

Rephrase: The government's view of individual rights may not be correct.

Evidence

In practice, the government will have the last word on what an individual’s rights are because its police will do what its officials and courts say.

Evaluate

Like most Main Conclusion questions, there is an important pivot (But / Yet / However) that comes before the conclusion, and then the conclusion is followed by support.

The argument presents an initial statement about the government's practical authority over defining individual rights, which might lead someone to assume this view is correct. However, the author immediately pivots with "But that does not mean," signaling that the statement following this pivot is the beginning of the author's argument.

We aren't given a keyword to distinguish whether it's saying, "But [conclusion]. After all [evidence]" or saying "But [evidence]. Therefore [conclusion]."

However the sentiment "the government isn't necessarily correct" is the same as "the government may be wrong", which sounds opinionated, and thus like our conclusion.

And the semicolon " ; " after that claim is signaling that we will now hear support for that claim.

Goal

Find the best available meaning match for

17.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument?

  1. Individuals have no rights at

    Premise

    This answer repeats the premise, which is also the last claim (which is a common trap answer on Main Conclusion).

    7% picked this

  2. Correct

    What government officials and courts

    Why this is right

    This matches the main conclusion of the argument indicating skepticism about the correctness of the government’s view of rights.

    Skill tested: Main Conclusion · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    84% picked this

  3. Individuals have rights unless the

    Opposing Idea

    This answer suggests a premise opposing the argument's stance. It implies something about individual rights that contradicts the argument's main point.

    4% picked this

  4. The police always agree with

    Background

    This option suggests cooperation between police and government, which serves as context for the author's conclusion, but it’s not the conclusion itself.

    1% picked this

  5. One should always try to

    Assumption-Bait

    This very strong statement may feel like an assumption inherent in upholding individual rights but was not explicitly stated in the argument. Thus, it shouldn't be tempting as a match for the explicit conclusion.

    3% picked this

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