Two siblings, P and Q, worked together to steal cookies from their par

Official Explanation

Analyze the information

You must complete the two scenarios logically based on the information in the passage. P and Q each have only two choices: to tell or not to tell on the sibling (they are not asked about their own involvement, and if they volunteer such information, it has no consequences). In terms of getting to play with the favorite toy as soon as possible, the best scenario involves telling on the other sibling when the other doesn't tattle (play right away), the second-best involves not telling when the other sibling also doesn't tell (lose play privileges for 1 day), the third-best involves tattling when the other also tells (lose play privileges for 3 days), and the worst involves not telling on the other when the other tattles (lose play privileges for 7 days). Keep these conditions and consequences in mind as you consider the choices.

Approach strategically

The first part of the scenario provides a condition and asks for a consequence: if P hears Q confessing, then P should ___. When Q confesses, P should also confess. While P will lose some play time with her favorite toy, she will lose even more play time if she refuses to confess.

The second part of the sentence provides a consequence and asks for a condition that triggers that consequence: if Q discovers that P will ___, then Q should refuse to confess. Such refusal works to Q's benefit the most when P also refuses to confess: each sibling loses only one day of play time with their favorite toy. (If Q found out that P was going to confess, then Q should confess.)

For the record, the passage does not discuss any consequences of confessing or refusing to confess one's own stealing behavior, so "Confess that both P and Q stole" is incorrect for both columns. For the same reason, "Confess only that P stole" and "Refuse to confess that P stole" are incorrect for both columns.

The correct answers are these:

(1): Confess only that Q stole
(2): Refuse to confess that Q stole

TAKEAWAY: When determining what conditions or consequences must hold in a particular scenario, be careful not to go beyond the given information. Jotting down that information can help organize it and deal with it logically.