Logical Reasoning

PT142 · S4 · Q5 Government official: Although the

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Government official: Although the determination of local residents to rebuild hiking trails recently devastated by a landslide indicates that they are strongly committed to their community, the government should not assist them in rebuilding.

Conclusion (should not = opinion)

The government should not assist in rebuilding trails that have been washed out by landslides.

Evidence

There is a strong likelihood that future landslides could cause serious injury if the trails are rebuilt, thereby posing a risk to users.

Evaluate

We can predict an "If Evidence, then Conclusion" answer on Principle-Strengthen.

.

Goal

Look for an answer that aligns with both the conclusion's normative stance about what the government "should not assist" and the evidence concerning risk.

5.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in the government official's argument?

  1. Residents should not be allowed

    Bad Conclusion Match

    This choice discusses what residents should not be allowed to do, rather than focusing on government actions. It doesn't align with the conclusion about government responsibilities.

    0% picked this

  2. The determination of residents to

    Opposite (if anything)

    This sounds more like, "If residents are determined to rebuild, then government SHOULD support it".

    0% picked this

  3. Government agencies should not assist

    Bad Trigger Match

    This rule says, "if people are not strongly committed to their community, govt should not assist with projects". The outcome matches our conclusion, but the trigger doesn't apply to our evidence. The situation actually indicates people with a strong commitment to their community, making this trigger irrelevant to the current evidence.

    0% picked this

  4. Correct

    The government should not assist

    Why this is right

    This provides a principle stating that if a project is very likely to result in serious injury, the government should not assist. It accurately covers the given evidence of strong likelihood of injury and aligns with the conclusion by stating the government's role is not to assist in this context.

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

    97% picked this

  5. Residents should be discouraged from

    Bad Conclusion Match

    Similar to (A), this addresses residents rather than specifying government actions, thus irrelevant to the issue of government involvement in rebuilding high-risk trails.

    2% picked this

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