LSAT 121, Section 2, RC Passage 4, Leading Questions

RC Passage 4 Explanation

PASSAGE TEXT: Leading questions questions worded in such a way as to suggest a particular …

Paragraph Summaries

1. Leading questions can produce unreliable testimony because they suggest answers and can influence a witness’s memory. Even if courts prevent lawyers from using leading questions during testimony, earlier exposure to them can still affect what witnesses remember.
2. Research shows that leading questions can change memories because people do not store every detail of an event clearly. When new information is introduced, people may incorporate it into their memory, either by reinforcing something they actually remember or by filling in gaps with details that were suggested later.
3. Memories become more vulnerable to suggestion as time passes, especially for small details that were not central to the event. However, these seemingly small details can later become important in court, such as a suspect’s clothing or appearance.

Analysis

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