LSAT 143 | Section 2 | Reading Comprehension: Q16

RC Question 16 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Which one of the following considerations is…

DISCUSSION: Remember, this question is looking for something that is in A, and not in B.

You should look for the first part first. It’s easy to prove that something is in a passage. It’s harder to prove that something isn’t.

___________

1. CORRECT. Lines 24-26 in passage A talk about how you can harm yourself and others by lying. Passage B doesn’t talk about harm directly. On lines 52-54 the author does discuss whether or not a rational being could object to being treated as they treated others. But objecting is not the same thing as harm, and if you can’t object you certainly can’t claim harm.
   I’ll note that this answer seems a bit fuzzier than most, as the second passage is certainly talking about what’s right and wrong to do. But things can be right and wrong independent of whether they cause harm.
2. In passage A lines 24-26 talk about the consequences of lying (i.e. of reciprocating). They don’t talk about the consequences of not reciprocating.
3. Only passage B talks about rational beings.
4. Only passage B talks about who is owed respect (lines 40-46).
5. Neither passage mentions any specific instance or actual people. These are abstract, hypothetical passages far removed from actual examples.