In opposing government regulation of business, conservatives often app

Question

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

In opposing government regulation of business, conservatives often appeal to the Jeffersonian ideal of limited government, expressing the wish that government would "get off the backs of the American people." Yet, paradoxically, many of these same conservatives address questions of private morality, such as those dealing with sexual behavior, by calling for______

(A) a return to the restrictive sexual morality of the Victorian era
(B) a strengthening of the role of the family in setting moral norms for society
(C) a limitation on the amount of sexually provocative material appearing in books, motives, and television shows
(D) greater freedom for individuals to choose their own way of handling sexual issues
(E) an increased governmental role in the regulation and control of private sexual behavior

2794Aditya · Accepted Answer

Here, paradoxically hints that we should choose an option which is opposite of what the conservatives appeal, i.e. something which is not in line with the Jeffersonian ideal of limited government.

Therefore, we can eliminate A, B and D. Between C and E, C suggests that the conservatives call for a limitation on an issue, which becomes an individual's opinion and not a governmental restriction. This is not exactly what we are looking for. We should look out for the option which evinces  increased governmental role (opposite to Jeffersonian ideal) . Hence, E is the correct choice.

Utk P · Answer

Why is "C" not an answer ?

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

In opposing government regulation of business, conservatives often appeal to the Jeffersonian ideal of limited government, expressing the wish that government would "get off the backs of the American people." Yet, paradoxically, many of these same conservatives address questions of private morality, such as those dealing with sexual behavior, by calling for______

(A) a return to the restrictive sexual morality of the Victorian era
(B) a strengthening of the role of the family in setting moral norms for society
(C) a limitation on the amount of sexually provocative material appearing in books, motives, and television shows
(D) greater freedom for individuals to choose their own way of handling sexual issues
(E) an increased governmental role in the regulation and control of private sexual behavior

jaisonsunny77 · Answer

In opposing government regulation of business, conservatives often appeal to the Jeffersonian ideal of limited government, expressing the wish that government would "get off the backs of the American people." Yet, paradoxically, many of these same conservatives address questions of private morality, such as those dealing with sexual behavior, by calling for______

Paradoxically  means 'a contradictory statement'. So, if the underlined portion must contradict with what precedes it, then it must contain information that  seeks the government's influence .

Only (E) seeks the government's influence.

(E)  an increased governmental role  in the regulation and control of private sexual behavior

Hence,   (E) is the right answer choice.

Blackhawk276 · Answer

It says "Getting off people's backs" meaning govt involvement with people not with publications

ATSA · Answer

Answer is E.

Logic of the passage: 
For business telling government to -> Leave them kids alone, let them do as they wish.
Since the word paradox has been used, what happens next should contradict the spirit of independence emphasized in the first part. 
Hence, for sexual behavior telling government -> how dare they?! Tell them to stop.
Also, notice that its about  ‘private morality’.  Hence  any option that discusses social morality or morality in public sphere is irrelevant . 
Hence, (B) and (C) can be eliminated.

Now Option (A) specifically talks about one era. The question speaks only about restriction not defining codes of which era should be implemented. Hence, (A) is extreme in its treatment of the conservatives.

Option (D) talks about more freedom to individuals which doesn’t sit well with the structure of the sentence. 
X (however, but, instead, paradoxically, surprisingly) Y ==> Part Y is opposite in meaning/logic to part X
Hence, (D) is diametrically opposite and hence, the worst possible answer.

Option (E) talks of increased regulation by government in private sexual matter. This is exactly opposite of what confederates demand in business. It fits the structure of the sentence and fits the meaning too. Hence,  option (E) is correct.

SatvikVedala · Answer

Good Question, Clearly written

Conservatives are expressing concerns regarding governemnt involvement in regulation of business
But, the same conservatives appeal for Government intervention in cases of questioning private morality

Why choice with "intervention from government" or "government role" to be considered?
Since this is FiTB question, usually Question stem supports/restricts a entity in the first part of the stem. Same entity  shall  be supported/restricted in the latter part.

A -> No government role here. So eliminated
B -> No government role here as well. So eliminated
C -> No government role here as well. So eliminated
D -> Opposite. So eliminated
E -> Correct answer

dp7 · Answer

I feel that it is too vague an option, considering,  Limitation on provocative material  lies in control of the government, which has not been mentioned in the Qs.

MellowSpell · Answer

Just bcz the word paradoxically is written the ans is E- Is that so?

guddo · Answer

Not just because the word “paradoxically” is present.

The logic is: conservatives oppose  government regulation  in business, saying government should stay out. So the contrast must be that, on private morality, they support  government regulation .

(C) is close, but it is narrower because it talks only about limiting sexual material in media.

(E) is better because it directly gives the opposite of limited government: an increased governmental role in regulating private sexual behavior.

So “paradoxically” helps, but the real reason is the contrast between limited government in business and government control in private morality.

egmat · Answer

Hi MellowSpell,

Good instinct to be suspicious. You're right that you should never pick an answer just because a fancy word appears. But here "paradoxically" isn't decorative - it sets a  specific logical requirement  that only one choice can satisfy.

Walk through what the word actually forces:

-  First half:  conservatives want government to "get off the backs of the American people" - i.e.,  less  government in business.
-  "Yet, paradoxically":  a paradox means the same people do the  opposite  of what you'd expect. So the blank must show these conservatives wanting  more  government somewhere.

That's the real test - not the word itself, but the contrast it demands. Now scan the choices for the one that puts government  back on people's backs :

- (A), (B), (C) talk about moral restriction, but through eras, families, or media -  no clear government action , so no paradox with the business point.
- (D) means  less  restriction - that's consistent with limited government, the exact opposite of a paradox.
-  (E)  calls for "an  increased governmental role  in the regulation and control of private sexual behavior" - the same people who wanted government  out  of business now want it  in  private life. That's the contradiction "paradoxically" promised.

So E wins because it's the only choice that creates the government-out vs. government-in clash - the word just told you what clash to hunt for.

To feel how the connector drives it, turn one knob: 
- If the sentence read "Consistently, these same conservatives call for ___," which answer fits? Now (D) works and E is wrong.
- Swap back to "paradoxically," and it flips to E.

Same choices, opposite answers - because the connecting word, not any single answer, sets the logic you must match.

Answer: E

In opposing government regulation of business, conservatives often app

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