Question: Since empathy is essential for people to be willing to follow moral codes that sometimes require them to ignore their own welfare to help others, civilized society could not exist without empathy.
Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument?
(A) Civilized society can exist only if there are people who are willing to at least sometimes ignore their own welfare to help others.
(B) Failure to empathize with other people usually leads to actions detrimental to civilized society.
(C) If everyone in a society is sometimes willing to ignore his or her own welfare to help others, that society will be civilized.
(D) Moral codes that include the requirement that people disregard their own welfare in order to help others have arisen within some civilized societies.
(E) People who feel empathy tend to ignore their own welfare for the sake of others.
Explanation
Let's approach the answer choices.
A: Correct
The argument asserts that empathy is essential for people to follow moral codes that require them to disregard their own welfare to help others. The conclusion is that civilized society could not exist without empathy. To support this conclusion, the argument assumes that a component of civilized society is the presence of people who are willing to put aside their own welfare for the benefit of others, which aligns with option (A).
B: Incorrect
While this statement might seem reasonable, it doesn't directly relate to the argument's logic that empathy is essential for people to follow moral codes that require them to disregard their own welfare to help others. The argument doesn't explicitly state that failure to empathize always leads to detrimental actions.
C: Incorrect
This option presents a generalization about society being civilized based on people's willingness to ignore their welfare. However, the argument focuses on empathy being essential, and this assumption is too broad and not necessarily aligned with the argument's conclusion.
D: Incorrect
This option introduces a new premise about the existence of moral codes, but it doesn't directly address the role of empathy as being essential for people to follow these moral codes.
E: Incorrect
This option also introduces a new premise about the relationship between empathy and disregarding one's welfare, but it doesn't directly address the argument's focus on the necessity of empathy for following moral codes.
“Since empathy is essential for people to be willing to follow moral codesl”– is a GMAT Critical question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.
Suggested GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions
- TOMMY: That telephone always rings when I am in the shower and can’t hear it. GMAT critical reasoning
- A major network news organization experienced a drop in viewership in the week GMAT critical reasoning
- Experienced pilots often have more trouble than novice pilots in learning to fly GMAT critical reasoning
- It is Difficult to Keep Deep Wounds Free of Bacteria. GMAT critical reasoning
- Jane drinks 4 Cups of Coffee Every Day. GMAT critical reasoning
- Johnson is on Firm Ground When he Asserts that the Early Editors of Dickinsons Poetry Often Distorted her Intentions GMAT critical reasoning
- One Reason why European Music has had Such a Strong Influence Throughout the World GMAT critical reasoning
- The Elk City Garbage Dumps are so Full that Elk City has Been Forced to Pay a Large Sum to Caribou City to Accept much of Elk City’s Garbage. GMAT critical reasoning
- Manufacturers of household appliances are still urging the public to purchase food processors GMAT Critical Reasoning
- From time to time, the press indulges in outbursts of indignation over GMAT critical reasoning
- The tax system of the Republic of Grootland encourages borrowing by granting its taxpayers GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Advances in photocopying technology allow criminals with no printing expertise GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Professor A: We must make a strong moral statement against Country X’s policies GMAT Critical Reasoning
- In 1988, a significant percentage of seals in the Baltic Sea died GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Contrary to the charges made by some of its opponents GMAT Critical Reasoning
- A Year After The Start An Experiment To Decrease Crime GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Since the invention of digital readout, machine designers have rushed GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Many companies have been pushing for a three-week extension of daylight GMAT Critical Reasoning
- In All Mammalian Species, the Period of a Young Mammal’s Life GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Manufacturers of household appliances are still urging the public to purchase food processors GMAT critical reasoning
- Contrary to the Statements of Labour Leaders, the Central Economic Problem GMAT Critical Reasoning
- From time to time, the press indulges in outbursts of indignation over GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Exhaust released from a combustion engine is harmful when breathed in significant quantities.GMAT Critical Reasoning
- The tax system of the Republic of Grootland encourages borrowing by granting its taxpayers GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Advances in photocopying technology allow criminals with no printing expertise GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Professor A: We must make a strong moral statement against Country X’s policies GMAT Critical Reasoning
- According to an Independent Computer-Industry Analyst, the New Regent Microcomputer GMAT Critical Reasoning
- In Today’s Pluralistic Society, Textbook Publishers Find Themselves in an Increasingly Uncomfortable Position GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Economies in which a high percentage of resources are invested in research and development GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Columnist: The country is presently debating legislation GMAT Critical Reasoning
- When People Evade Income Taxes by not Declaring Taxable Income GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Utrania was formerly a major petroleum exporter, but in recent decades economic stagnation GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Useful protein drugs, such as insulin, must still be administered by the cumbersome GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Unripe Lychee Fruit Contain a Compound called Hypoglycin GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Tiger Beetles are such Fast Runners that they can Capture Virtually any Nonflying Insect GMAT Critical Reasoning
- According to a recent study, retirees in the United States are four times more likely to give regular financial aid to their children as to receive it from them GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Roland: The alarming fact is that 90 percent of the people in this country now report that they know someone who is unemployed GMAT Critical Reasoning
- TOMMY: That telephone always rings when I am in the shower and can’t hear it GMAT Critical Reasoning
- A major network news organisation experienced a drop in viewership in the week GMAT Critical Reasoning
- It is Difficult to Keep Deep Wounds Free of Bacteria GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Carol is Shorter Than Juan, But She is Taller than Ed. Sandra is Shorter than Juan, and She is Shorter than Ed GMAT critical reasoning
- Ethicist: It Would be a Mistake to Say that Just Because Someone is Inclined to do Otherwise GMAT critical reasoning
- According to a study, after a week of high-altitude living, twenty men had slimmed down. GMAT critical reasoning
- Shelby Industries Manufactures and Sells the Same Gauges as Jones Industries. GMAT critical reasoning
- Building a space station, in which astronauts would live for a considerable time GMAT critical reasoning
- The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration. GMAT critical reasoning
- According to a recent study, retirees in the United States are four times more likely to give regular financial aid to their children as to receive it from them. GMAT critical reasoning
- Using oil-based paints to paint walls or furniture requires the use of turpentine and each coat takes a long time to dry.GMAT critical reasoning
- President of the United States: I have Received over 2,000 Letters on this Issue, and the Vast Majority of them Support my Current Position. GMAT critical reasoning
- Roland: The alarming fact is that 90 percent of the people in this country now report that they know someone who is unemployed. GMAT critical reasoning

-modified.png?h=56&w=56&mode=stretch)





Comments