#4 - Concept Reference, Must Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (E).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice.

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[lsattesttaker93]

I understand AC E and why that is correct, but I am having a lot of trouble eliminating some of these ACs as I feel like they are extremely close?

For AC C if it did not have "degrees" and instead read "required sacrifice from citizens" this would be correct?

• In lines 13 - 14, it discussed the notion of shared sacrifice, so I am wondering if the mention of the DEGREES of sacrifice is the reason why this AC is wrong.

For AC D, I am a bit confused since I thought the author provides this in lines 30 - 32 "Therefore, it may be contended...lives of its citizens."

• Is the reason why this is incorrect is that this paragraph functions as a concession that the author is making to the opponent's view, and not what the author actually believes?

The analogy and then the shifting viewpoints really made my head spin in this passage.

[Adam Tyson]

You're correct about answer C, lsattesttaker93 - the passage never indicates that there are different degrees of sacrifice from different citizens. But the author would agree that both things require some form of sacrifice from citizens.

For answer D, the reason it is wrong is not that it is a concession by the author, because it is NOT a concession by the author. It's just the author describing the view held by opponents, a view that the author rejects. So the author does not say that this makes the two things analogous, because the author doesn't believe this claim is true about either thing. Neither is an overstep!

[valentina07]

Why is answer choice B wrong?

As to answer choice E, I can see how it is mentioned that national service serves ends beyond those related to the basic survival of the state like "quelling civil disorders, rebuilding dams and bridges, or assisting the victims of natural disasters," but I don't see how taxation does so.

[Luke Haqq]

Hi Valentina07!

As to why answer choice (B) is wrong, I'd look to the first paragraph. The material there makes it apparent that the author does not necessarily see national service and taxation as being at odds with the notion of individual rights in a democracy. Rather, the author emphasizes that individual rights exist within the context of a community, a context that includes "shared sacrifice" (line 13), such as taxes and national service.

Regarding answer choice (E), take a look at the final paragraph. That paragraph explains that "[e]ven the most conservative of politicians admits that tax money is rightly spent on programs that, while not necessary for the survival of the state, are nevertheless of great benefit to society" (lines 40-44). That text indicates that tax money can be spent on programs that benefit society but are not necessary to the survival of the state.