PrepTest 80, Section 4, Question 2
By Brandon Beaver | Published October 29, 2024
Type: Purpose of Reference
Difficulty:
Explanations
We're asked to interpret the purpose of the rhetorical question levied in the first paragraph.
This rhetorical device both highlights utilitarianism's intuitive appeal and sets up the Rawlsian response to utilitarianism's drawbacks. That's my prediction.
Let's go find it.
A
No, this misses the mark. The author's highlighting what makes utilitarianism attractive, not something inherently impossible about it.
B
Nah. The author's saying it's natural to find utilitarianism appealing, not that it contradicts itself.
C
Also wrong. The author isn't suggesting that utilitarianism must be the end-all-be-all, just that it makes sense that we'd naturally gravitate toward it.
D
Yes, this is the answer. The author's insinuating that utilitarianism's fundamental precepts make it appealing.
E
Not even close. The author isn't suggesting any supplements to utilitarianism, and especially not in the context of this specific rhetorical question.
Passage
The following passage is adapted from a journal article.
Question 2
The purpose of