Mario and Ricky are hanging out together on a hot summer night. They are sitting around the pool at Ricky’s apartment complex playing cards. They are the only ones there. Mario suggests that they go swimming even though there is a sign posted that reads: NO LIFEGUARD, swimmers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. POOL CLOSES AT 9:00 PM. "But, my mom is not here and besides, it's 10:15 p. m. There is no one to watch us and the pool is closed," argued Ricky.

"Aw, come on Ricky! It is so hot! I know we're only 14, but we look like we're 16!" Mario pleaded. "Plus, if we are quiet, no one will even know we are swimming."

If Ricky decides against Mario's idea, he is

breaking the law.
obeying the law.
disobeying the rules.
obeying the rules.

Voters commonly condemn politicians for being insincere, but politicians often must disguise their true feelings when they make public statements. if they expressed their honest views—about, say, their party's policies—then achieving politically necessary compromises would be much more difficult. clearly, the very insincerity that people decry shows that our government is functioning well. which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines this reasoning? (a) achieving political compromises is not all that is necessary for the proper functioning of a government. (b) some political compromises are not in the best long-term interest of the government. (c) voters often judge politicians by criteria other than the sincerity with which they express their views. (d) a political party's policies could turn out to be detrimental to the functioning of a government. (e) some of the public statements made by politicians about their party's policies could in fact be sincere.