Critical reasoning — Should officers who accept bribes be punished? Statement: Should officers accepting bribe be punished? Arguments: I. No. Certain circumstances may have compelled them to take bribe. II. Yes. They should do the job they are entrusted with, honestly.

Introduction / Context:
This item tests argument strength in ethical public administration. The statement asks whether officers who accept bribes should be punished. We must judge the intrinsic strength of each argument, assuming general real-world norms of governance, not special pleading or exceptional anecdotes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Public officers are entrusted with official duties and are bound by law and a code of conduct.
• Bribery is illegal and corrosive to fairness, accountability, and public trust.
• “Strong” arguments are fact-based, principle-consistent, and broadly applicable rather than relying on vague exceptions.

Concept / Approach:
Evaluate each argument against legal-ethical principles and policy logic. Arguments that normalize illegality through unspecified “compulsions” are weak; arguments that appeal to rule of law and duty are strong. We do not consider private hardships unless the statement explicitly frames exemptions.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
In standard ethics frameworks, deterrence, fairness, and equality before law justify penalizing bribery. Edge cases (coercion, duress) are handled through due process and evidentiary standards, not by a blanket refusal to punish.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Only argument I is strong: incorrect; I is vague and normalizes illegality.
• Either I or II is strong: false; the two are not equally compelling.
• Neither I nor II is strong: false; II is strong.
• Both I and II are strong: false; I is weak, II is strong.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing empathy for hardship with policy legitimacy. Compassionate considerations are adjudicated case by case; they do not invalidate the general rule against bribery.

Final Answer:
Only argument II is strong