In an experiment, each volunteer was allowed to choose between an easy task and a hard task and was told that another

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In an experiment, each volunteer was allowed to choose between an easy task and a hard task and was told that another volunteer would do the other task. Each volunteer could also choose to have a computer assign the two tasks randomly. Most volunteers chose the easy task for themselves and under questioning later said they had acted fairly. But when the scenario was described to another group of volunteers, almost all said choosing the easy task would be unfair. This shows that most people apply weaker moral standards to themselves than to others.

Which of the following is an assumption required by this argument?


(A) At least some volunteers who said they had acted fairly in choosing the easy task would have said that it was unfair for someone else to do so.

(B) The most moral choice for the volunteers would have been to have the computer assign the two tasks randomly.

(C) There were at least some volunteers who were assigned to do the hard task and felt that the assignment was unfair.

(D) On average, the volunteers to whom the scenario was described were more accurate in their moral judgments than the other volunteers were.

(E) At least some volunteers given the choice between assigning the tasks themselves and having the computer assign them felt that they had made the only fair choice available to them.


OA A

Source: Official Guide
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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Let's find the answer choice with the information that must be true in order for the argument in passage to be accurate. The passage conveyed a message that "most people apply weaker moral standards to themselves than to others."

Option A - Correct
This fact that the conclusion "most people apply weaker moral standards to themselves than to others" was made based on the assumption from the volunteers to whom the scenario was described to is a validation of the claim portrayed in this option. Hence, this answer choice is correct.

Option B - Incorrect
This claim is wrong because the standard moral deduction from the passage was made from the choice given to the volunteers to assign tasks to themselves or allow computers to assign it.


Option C - Incorrect
This answer choice is incorrect. According to the passage, no volunteer was assigned to do the hard or easy task. The volunteers were given options to choose in assigning tasks to themselves personally or allow a computer to assign it randomly.

Option D - Incorrect
The claim is too absolute because the response of volunteers to whom the scenario was described to, was based on assumption. So, we can't be so sure they will not choose the easy or hard task if they were in a similar situation.

Option E - Incorrect
The fact that they made a decision for themselves doesn't mean they apply weaker moral standards to themselves. The passage conclusion contradicts this claim. Therefore, it is wrong.