PT158 S3 Q16 ExplanationIf a belief is based on information

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Unprovable4% picked this

   Beliefs for which a person does not have observable evidence

   The passage says nothing about beliefs without observable evidence being unreasonable. The first statement tells us beliefs from reliable sources ARE reasonable — but it does not tell us that beliefs WITHOUT observable evidence are unreasonable. A belief could lack observable evidence, lack a reliable source, and still be reasonable for some other reason not discussed in the passage. This answer makes a sweeping claim about all beliefs without observable evidence that the passage provides no basis for. The passage identifies one sufficient condition for reasonableness (reliable source) but never identifies any condition for unreasonableness.

   4%
2. B

   Unprovable3% picked this

   Beliefs based on information from a reliable source

   The passage explicitly states the opposite for at least some beliefs: the second statement says some beliefs are based on reliable sources and are NOT self-evident. If those beliefs were self-evident, the second statement would be contradicted. Nothing in the passage supports the claim that reliable-source beliefs are self-evident. The passage treats "reliable source" and "self-evident" as independent properties — a belief can have one without the other. This answer incorrectly conflates two properties the passage carefully keeps separate.

   3%
3. C

   Unprovable15% picked this

   All reasonable beliefs for which a person has no observable evidence are based on information

   This answer claims that ALL reasonable beliefs without observable evidence are based on information from a reliable source. The passage only establishes that being based on a reliable source is one sufficient condition for reasonableness. There could be other paths to reasonableness that the passage does not mention — perhaps logical coherence, widespread agreement, or some other factor. The passage tells us reliable-source beliefs are reasonable, but it never says reliable sources are the ONLY way to be reasonable without observable evidence. This answer converts a one-way sufficient condition into an exhaustive claim about all reasonable beliefs lacking observable evidence.

   15%
4. D

   Unprovable9% picked this

   If a belief is not grounded in observable evidence, then it is

   This answer claims: if a belief is not grounded in observable evidence, then it is not self-evident either. The passage provides no basis for linking these two properties in this way. Observable evidence and self-evidence are treated as independent properties in the passage. The second statement mentions beliefs that lack BOTH properties, but that does not mean lacking one entails lacking the other. A belief could be self-evident (like a basic logical truth) without being grounded in observable evidence, or grounded in observable evidence without being self-evident. The passage's description of beliefs lacking both properties does not establish a conditional relationship between the two.

   9%
5. E

   Correct69% picked this

   Among reasonable beliefs that are not self-evident, there are some beliefs that are not grounded

   Why this is right

   Combine the two statements. The second statement tells us: some beliefs are based on a reliable source, are not self-evident, and are not grounded in observable evidence. The first statement tells us: beliefs based on a reliable source are reasonable. Therefore, those beliefs from the second statement are reasonable. This gives us beliefs that are (1) reasonable, (2) not self-evident, and (3) not grounded in observable evidence. This answer captures exactly that conclusion: among reasonable beliefs that are not self-evident, there exist some that are not grounded in observable evidence. Every step follows necessarily from the stated facts with no additional assumptions required.

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

   69%