Even though she thought the informant was untrustworthy, the journalist promised not to reveal his identity so long a...

Victoria on May 18, 2020

Hi @kenken,

The journalist promised not to reveal the identity of her untrustworthy informant as long as the information he provided was not found to be false.

False information --> Reveal identity

Not reveal identity --> True information

The journalist will reveal the informant's identity if a judge or her editor orders her to do so.

Judge or editor order --> Reveal identity

Not reveal identity --> No judge and no editor order

The informant provided the journalist with information concerning safety violations at the power plant.

Therefore, the passage concludes, the journalist will reveal the informant's identity even if the information proves to be true.

Why would she do this? There are three possible reasons why the journalist would reveal the informant's identity: (1) information was false; (2) judge order; or (3) editor order.

We know from the passage's conclusion that the journalist will reveal the informant's identity even if the information is true. Therefore, there must be a judge or editor order.

Answer choice (E) is incorrect because the informant's perceptions have nothing to do with the existence of a judge or editor order. Even if the informant did not understand this, a judge's order or the editor's order would still require the journalist to release the identity of the informant.

Hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions.