ExplanationEtiquette helps people to get along with each other. For example, it prevents people from inadvertently offending one another. While many people criticize etiquette because they believe it has no beneficial effects for society, these same people think that kindness and social harmony are good.
The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following?Since this question uses the wording "most strongly support," it is a Conclusion question. So, the correct answer will be a conclusion that may not necessarily be true given what the passage says but follows from and is supported by what the passage says.
A. Many people who criticize etiquette have contradictory views about etiquette.The failure point of this choice is the word "contradictory."
Considering the statements in the passage, we see that the people who criticize etiquette don't have contradictory views about etiquette itself. In other words, their views regarding etiquette are not inconsistent. They criticize etiquette and believe it has no beneficial effects for society, engaging in two actions that are consistent with each other.
At the same time, this choice is a trap because the passage does bring up something contradictory, which is that people who criticize etiquette believe it has no beneficial effects for society even though, by helping people to get along with each other, etiquette probably results in social harmony, which they believe to be good.
However, the fact that their views related to the entire situation are contradictory doesn't mean that their views about etiquette specifically are contradictory. So, this choice isn't supported by the passage.
Eliminate.
B. Many people have respect for etiquette even though they criticize it.The passage does not indicate that the many people who criticize etiquette have respect for it.
They may have respect for what could be a result of etiquette, social harmony, but not for etiquette itself, which they believe to have no beneficial effects.
Eliminate.
C. Many people who criticize etiquette are mistaken about its beneficial effects for society.We see that the people who criticize etiquette believe it has no beneficial effects. At the same time, the passage indicates that etiquette "helps people to get along with each other."
Logically, something that "helps people to get along with each other" results in social harmony, which, according to the passage, those who criticize etiquette think is "good."
Thus, we can say that, actually, etiquette does have effects that they would consider beneficial and that they are therefore mistaken in believing it has no beneficial effects.
So, this choice is supported by the passage.
Keep.
D. If people were more considerate there would be no need for etiquette.The passage does not indicate what would happen if people were "more considerate" or make clear all the reasons why there is a need for etiquette, which might include reasons that have nothing to do with people being or not being considerate. So, it does not indicate that, if people were more considerate there would be no need for etiquette.
Eliminate.
E. Kindness and social harmony are highly beneficial to society.This choice is a trap because the passage does say that people who criticize etiquette think that kindness and social harmony are good. So, we could get the impression that the passage indicates that kindness and social harmony are good, in other words, beneficial to society.
However, the fact that the passage says that some people think kindness and social harmony are good does not mean that the passage supports the conclusion that they are in fact good. After all, stating someone's opinion is not the same as stating that that opinion is correct.
So, this choice is not supported.
Eliminate.
Correct Answer