Question

No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.
Which of the following options can be BEST concluded from the passage?

• A. Unless we are put to test for our beliefs, we do not know what our true beliefs are.
• B. To claim to know anything we must apply it in a situation and then judge ourselves.
• C. Most of the population does not know what being bad or being good actually is.
• D. To claim to be good people, we should know what temptation means.
• E. How we label ourselves depends entirely on how much we have fought for that label.

Hint:

Philosophical RCs often test abstract reasoning — the best conclusion is usually the one that generalizes the passage’s main analogy (temptation = test of belief).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To answer the question, we must first analyze the passage and understand its core message. The passage discusses the concept of temptation and how the experience of resisting temptation is what truly informs an individual about the strength of that temptation. It also mentions the misconception that good people do not understand temptation, instead emphasizing that resisting temptation provides insight into its strength. A comparison is made to illustrate that one can only understand the strength of an opposing force (like the German army or a wind) by resisting it.

Now, let's evaluate each option in the context of this passage:

1. Unless we are put to test for our beliefs, we do not know what our true beliefs are.

   This option captures the essence of the passage, which essentially states that understanding the strength of temptation (or any belief) requires being tested by it. Only by resisting temptation do we truly learn about it. Thus, this is the most appropriate conclusion.

2. To claim to know anything we must apply it in a situation and then judge ourselves.

   While this option is somewhat related to the passage's theme of experiential understanding, it is broader and less focused on the specific idea of testing beliefs through temptation.

3. Most of the population does not know what being bad or being good actually is.

   This statement is quite different from the passage’s focus. The passage is more about the knowledge of temptation rather than a generalized statement about the population's understanding of good or bad.

4. To claim to be good people, we should know what temptation means.

   This option partially aligns with the passage, but it doesn't fully encompass the key point about how one only understands temptation through resistance.

5. How we label ourselves depends entirely on how much we have fought for that label.

   Although related to the idea of struggle and resistance, this option diverts from the specific context of temptation and belief testing as discussed in the passage.

Therefore, the best conclusion from the passage is:
Unless we are put to test for our beliefs, we do not know what our true beliefs are.

Answer 2

Step 1: Analyze the passage.
The passage argues that resisting temptation is the only way to understand its strength. People who give in easily never truly understand the struggle, and thus do not really know badness or goodness.
Step 2: Evaluate the options.
- Option A: This aligns perfectly — only through testing (resisting temptation) do we truly know the strength of our beliefs or character. - Option B: Too broad and vague. The focus here is specifically on resisting temptation, not on all knowledge. - Option C: Exaggerated. The passage does not claim about “most of the population,” just about people who give in. - Option D: Partially true, but narrower. The conclusion is about testing beliefs, not just “knowing temptation.” - Option E: Interesting, but not as precise. The key point is testing beliefs, not labeling ourselves.
Step 3: Best conclusion.
Option A most accurately captures the essence of the passage.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{A}} \]