"How Do We Tell Right From Wrong?"

Which statement best states a central idea of the article? 

[ RI.2]

• Lawrence Kohlberg interviewed a group of young men about moral decision making.

• Lawrence Kohlberg realized that people make decisions the same way their entire lives.

• Lawrence Kohlberg concluded that people’s moral decision making develops as they age.

• Lawrence Kohlberg found that young children make decisions based on avoiding punishment.

Which statement b est describes the difference between preconventional reasoning and postconventional reasoning? [ RI.3]

• Preconventional reasoning is based on community norms, but postconventional reasoning is based on

  religious beliefs.

• Preconventional reasoning is based on avoiding punishment, but postconventional reasoning is based on

  earning rewards.

• Preconventional reasoning is based on benefiting oneself, but postconventional reasoning is based on

  one’s personal morals and values.

• Preconventional reasoning is based on following one’s moral principles, but postconventional reasoning

  is based on doing what is best for oneself.

According to Kohlberg, how does Stage 4 moral reasoning represent a greater concern for society than Stage 3

reasoning? [ RI.3]

• Stage 4 moral reasoning is concerned about society’s laws instead of a desire for approval.

• Stage 4 moral reasoning is concerned about society’s approval instead of what is morally right.

• Stage 4 moral reasoning is concerned about other people’s approval instead of personal rewards.

• Stage 4 moral reasoning is concerned about other people’s success instead of avoiding punishment.

Which quotation below b est supports the idea that the common good becomes more important to people as

they age? [ RI.1]

• “Kohlberg came up with a theory to describe the different ways that human beings make moral choices.”

  (Paragraph 5)

• “They tend to follow the rules that their parents and teachers make because they are thinking about

  getting something good or not getting in trouble.” (Paragraph 7)

• “They see rules as being the same for everyone, and they think it is important and valuable to do what

  one is ‘supposed’ to do.” (Paragraph 12)

• “Once a person begins to think in a Stage 5 way about what benefits the community as a whole, they will

  almost never go back to a Stage 2 level of looking out for themselves first.” (Paragraph 16)

Which stage of m oral development do you think students at your school display most often? Why?