Q21 - Advertiser: Most TV shows

[AnnaC286]

I am still struggling with the distinction between answer choice A and B - it seems that A would be a more suitable principle for the stated problem. If A is saying - "if you feel the tv show is worth preserving, then you ought to take those actions" this would imply that everyone who thinks the TV show is worth preserving would take such actions. So if many people like the show and think its worth preserving then they will all take the necessary actions. I don't understand how this is different then saying everyone in B. A just seemed more broad and more appropriate for a principle question.

Any more light on this distinction would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[smiller]

If A is saying - "if you feel the tv show is worth preserving, then you ought to take those actions" this would imply that everyone who thinks the TV show is worth preserving would take such actions. So if many people like the show and think its worth preserving then they will all take the necessary actions. I don't understand how this is different then saying everyone in B. A just seemed more broad and more appropriate for a principle question.

Choice (A) was really tempting for me the first time I looked at it, too, and the distinction between (A) and (B) is not easy to spot. In a case like that, we need to pay close attention to the language in each answer choice.

The way you paraphrased choice (A)—"if you feel the tv show is worth preserving, then you ought to take those actions"—misses some important detail. The sufficient condition is not "if you feel that a show is worth preserving." The sufficient condition is, "if a show that you find worth preserving would be cancelled unless you take certain actions." It implies that one person's lack of action could cause the show to be cancelled. But the stimulus isn't about the result of one person's action. It's describing what would happen if "many people watching the show" fail to buy the products, and what would happen if "people in general" fail to buy them.

Consider these two examples:

1. "If one would upset one's favorite aunt by failing to call the aunt on her birthday, one should always call."

2. "If not receiving many calls on her birthday would upset Aunt Sheila, anyone who cares about Aunt Sheila should call her on her birthday."

Notice how the top example focuses on the aunt's reaction to one person failing to call, but the bottom focuses on the aunt's reaction to many people failing to call. That's the difference between choice (A) and choice (B).

The good news is that there will rarely be more than one or two questions in an LR section that require you to notice this subtle of a difference. You're not doomed in LR if you find this question exceptionally difficult. But if you want to understand why choice (A) is incorrect, you have to pay attention to this level of detail.