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705-805 (Hard)|   Inference|      
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Bunuel
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We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will 05 Mar 2024, 11:30
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C
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75% (hard)

Question Stats:

55% (01:56) correct 45% (01:57) wrong based on 509 sessions

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­We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will make others less virtuous. It is an irony of human existence that praise makes those who are less virtuous more virtuous, while it makes those who are more virtuous less virtuous. And, of course, none except the more virtuous deserve praise.

From the statements above, if true, which one of the following can be properly inferred?

(A) We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.

(B) We should not fail to praise those who deserve it most.

(C) We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.

(D) We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.

(E) We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.­
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C
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We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will 06 Mar 2024, 11:35
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The first line of the argument, which is the conclusion, states that we should only do actions that make other more virtuous. The author further adds that because more virtuous deserve praise, they will become less virtuous while the less virtuous when praised become more virtuous. Thus, I believe that the author is trying to say that praise the less virtuous & don't praise the more virtuous.

(A) We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.
Option A and B are basically saying the same thing.

(B) We should not fail to praise those who deserve it most.
Option A and B are basically saying the same thing.

(C) We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.
Seems correct, and aligns with the conclusion.

(D) We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.
Eliminate.

(E) We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.­
Not at all.

Answer C.
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We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will 06 Mar 2024, 13:12
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(A) We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.
Contradicting Statement: ­We should do what will make others more virtuous

(B) We should not fail to praise those who deserve it most.
Contradicting Statement: ­not do what will make others less virtuous.

(C) We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.
Contradicting Statement: NONE

(D) We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.
Contradicting Statement: ­not do what will make others less virtuous.

(E) We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.­
Contradicting Statement: ­We should do what will make others more virtuous

Hence, answer must be (C)
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We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will 03 Apr 2026, 09:26
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KarishmaB Could you please help on this?
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guddo
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We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will 03 Apr 2026, 10:30
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­We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will make others less virtuous. It is an irony of human existence that praise makes those who are less virtuous more virtuous, while it makes those who are more virtuous less virtuous. And, of course, none except the more virtuous deserve praise.

From the statements above, if true, which one of the following can be properly inferred?

The statements give a rule about what we should do: we should do what makes people more virtuous and avoid what makes people less virtuous. Praise makes the less virtuous better, but it makes the more virtuous worse. So the key inference is that we should praise the less virtuous and avoid praising the more virtuous. Since only the more virtuous deserve praise, this means we should praise some people who do not deserve praise and withhold praise from those who do deserve it.

A. We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.

This is not the best inference. The issue is not who deserves praise least. The rule is about what praise does to people’s virtue. Also, this says nothing about praising those who do not deserve praise.

B. We should not fail to praise those who deserve it most.

This is the opposite of the argument. Those who deserve praise are the more virtuous, and praising the more virtuous makes them less virtuous. So we should not praise them.

C. We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.

This follows directly. The less virtuous do not deserve praise, but praising them makes them more virtuous, so we should praise them. Those who deserve praise are among the more virtuous, and praising them makes them less virtuous, so we should withhold praise from them.

D. We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.

This is too broad. We should not praise the more virtuous, because that would make them less virtuous.

E. We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.

This is also too broad. We should praise the less virtuous, because that would make them more virtuous.

Answer: (C)
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We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will 05 Apr 2026, 21:28
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Bunuel
­We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will make others less virtuous. It is an irony of human existence that praise makes those who are less virtuous more virtuous, while it makes those who are more virtuous less virtuous. And, of course, none except the more virtuous deserve praise.

From the statements above, if true, which one of the following can be properly inferred?

(A) We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.

(B) We should not fail to praise those who deserve it most.

(C) We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.

(D) We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.

(E) We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.­
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Given statement that are to be assumed to be true:

­We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will make others less virtuous.
Praise makes those who are less virtuous more virtuous, while it makes those who are more virtuous less virtuous.
None except the more virtuous deserve praise.

What can we infer? If less virtuous are praised, they will become more virtuous and if more virtuous are praised, they will become less virtuous. So even though more virtuous deserve praise, we should not give it to them (because it will make them less virtuous). And even though less virtuous do not deserve praise, we should give it to them (because it will make them more virtuous)

(A) We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.

As per what is given, we should praise those who deserve it less. So this is not correct.

(B) We should not fail to praise those who deserve it most.

As per what is given, we should fail to praise (not praise) those who deserve it most. So this is not correct.

(C) We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.

Correct as discussed above.

(D) We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.
(E) We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.­

Not correct. Argument tells us to dole out praise based on virtue - it doesn't tell us to treat everyone the same.

Answer (C)

Discussion on Inference Questions: https://youtu.be/PMnU9ULdSfs
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