Question

read the excerpt from the republic by plato.
on the other hand, the men of business, stooping as
they walk, and pretending not even to see those
whom they have already ruined, insert their sting—that
is, their money—into some one else who is not on his
guard against them, and recover the parent sum many
times over multiplied into a family of children: and so
they make drone and pauper to abound in the state.
yes, he said, there are plenty of them—that is certain.
the evil blazes up like a fire, and they will not
extinguish it, either by restricting a man’s use of his
own property, or by another remedy.
what other?
one which is the next best, and has the advantage of
compelling the citizens to look to their characters:—
let there be a general rule that every one shall enter
which claim does the speaker make in this excerpt?
○ contracts pose the greatest risk to people with little
money
○ it is immoral for people to conduct unfair business
dealings.
○ people do not think about those whom they have
wronged
○ a government is stronger when its business is run
ethically

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: The excerpt focuses on businesspeople's unfair practices, not on contracts' risk to the poor. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 2: The text describes businesspeople taking advantage ("ruined," "insert their sting") and creating drones/pauper, implying such unfair dealings are immoral. This matches.
• Analyze Option 3: The excerpt says businesspeople "pretending not even to see those whom they have already ruined"—but this is about their actions, not people's general lack of thought for wronged others. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 4: The excerpt discusses the evil of unfair business and a remedy about character, not government strength from ethical business. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. It is immoral for people to conduct unfair business dealings.