LSAT 105 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q11

RC Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The author states that our intuition of the injustice …

DISCUSSION: This is stated in the first sentence of the last paragraph. We reject harsh punishments because they harm the criminal more than they benefit society.

___________

1. We don’t know that harsh punishments bring no benefit, just that the harm outweighs the benefit.
2. While this is true, it’s only part of the reason. The key is that this harm outweighs the benefit.
3. CORRECT. This is precisely what’s stated in the last paragraph.
4. This is the reverse of what the passage says.
5. We reject harsh sentences because we question their fairness, not because we attempt to reconcile the two rationales.