@hallerae This is a Strengthen with Sufficient Premise question, so we are looking for the answer choice that 100% guarantees the conclusion.
The conclusion here is, "Thus, under vague laws people cannot feel secure."
The support provided?
"Vague laws set vague limits on people's freedom, which make it impossible for them to know for certain whether their actions are legal."
Notice the jump here.
Vague laws make it impossible for people to know for certain whether their actions are legal but the conclusion jumps to people cannot feel secure.
(A), "people can feel secure only if they know for certain whether their actions are legal," guarantees this conclusion by closing this gap (i.e. by making not knowing for certain whether actions are legal sufficient for not feeling secure).
FS ==> KCWAL not KCWAL ==> not FS
Compare this with (C):
"If people know for certain whether their actions are legal, they can feel secure."
Here, "if" introduces the sufficient condition.
KCWAL ==> FS not FS ==> not KCWAL
And (B):
"If people do not know for certain whether their actions are legal, then they MIGHT not feel secure."
The problem with (B) is "might not feel secure" versus our conclusion in the stimulus which states "people cannot feel secure."
Hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Yuer-WangOctober 12, 2019
Can anyone explain why D is incorrect compared to A? thanks!
grimadeauMay 27, 2020
Can u diagram the stimulus? Also I see why a is correct and understand the logic behind the wording, but a lil lost in the diagram portion. The "not KCWAL" the negotiation, does not connect to any of the premise.
dianalazarFebruary 3, 2022
@Mehran can you diagram the question as well. Struggling to see how A is the best answer.
RaviFebruary 4, 2022
I'd diagram it like this
Vague laws-->vague limits on freedom-->impossible to know if actions are legal
The conclusion is under vague laws, people can't feel secure
The structure is A-->B-->C-->D
The conclusion is D
We need a link from C-->D. We need something that stays if people don't know if their actions are legal, they'll feel insecure
A says the contrapositive of our anticipation. If knowing whether or not one's actions are legal is a requirement to feel secure, then one won't feel secure if they don't know about the legality of their actions, so it's correct.
