LSAT PrepTest 128 - Section 4 - Passage 4 - Question 22

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Passage A discusses the views of the economist and political thinker Thomas Sowell. ███████ █ ██ ███████ ████ ██ ███████ ██ ███████

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Define "cosmic justice" · Idealized form of justice, requires perfect knowledge

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Author's persepective · Legal system cannot and should not try to dispense cosmic justice

Because we don't have perfect knowledge.

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Explain · Why we cannot know what someone deserves

We don't have the information or intelligence needed to weigh every relevant factor.

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Author's conclusion · Should base justice on consequences, not causes

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Draw distinction · Between cosmic justice and traditional justice

Traditional justice is based on process. Inference: if cosmic justice is fundamentally different from traditional justice, then cosmic justice is not based on process.

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Illustrate · How traditional justice is based on process

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Illustrate · How cosmic justice accounts for other factors besides process

Note author's perspective: the goals of cosmic justice are "foolish."

Author's perspective · Cosmic justice reduces deterrence

Passage Style

22.

Passage A differs from passage █ ██ ████ ███████ █ ██ ████

Question Type

Describe relationship

What quality does Passage A exhibit more than Passage B? It’s difficult to have a strong anticipation. Both Passage A and Passage B don’t think cosmic justice is something that the legal system should try to achieve. However, Passage A more directly makes an argument against achieving cosmic justice, whereas Passage B focuses more on describing the difference between cosmic justice and traditional justice, while calling cosmic justice “foolish.” So perhaps the answer will relate to Passage A’s more direct argument against cosmic justice? By calling cosmic justice “foolish,” however, Passage B exhibits a more clearly negative attitude toward cosmic justice. So perhaps Passage A is less harsh or negative about cosmic justice? Let’s keep an open mind.

abstract

Passage A is more abstract than Passage B, because Passage B gives a concrete example in describing cosmic justice. But Passage A doesn’t give examples. Passage A also discusses the more general idea of deserving something, whereas Passage B focuses on justice in the legal system.

72%

inflammatory

Passage A isn’t more inflammatory. It doesn’t use more extreme language or say anything that someone might find offensive.

technical

If anything, Passage B is more technical, because it mentions rules relating to the fairness of a trial and factors considered in the sentencing of a murderer.

10%

narrative

Passage A is not more narrative. It doesn’t tell a story.

11%

adversarial

Both passages are adversarial toward cosmic justice, because they both have a negative view about it. If anything, we might call (B) more adversarial because it used harsher language (”foolish”) to describe cosmic justice.

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PrepTest 128 - Section 4 - Passage 4 - Question 22

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