LSAT 145 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q2

RC Question 2 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Before looking at the answers, you should reread the quoted sections of the passage, and the lines around them. This normally lets you answer the question.

It’s tempting to look at the answers first, but they are not a source of information. The answers are written to confuse you and slow you down. They are the enemy. Don’t look at them without knowing what to look for.

The author quotes from both documents to show that the charter is significantly less strong than the proposal. The proposal (which wasn’t passed) was for a legally binding agreement that would force countries to take action, whereas the charter merely encourages respect for human rights.

___________

1. Tempting, but the two documents did not define human rights differently. Both documents merely mention human rights.
2. CORRECT. The author quotes from both documents in order to compare them. The second version is much stronger – it requires member states to work together to promote human rights. The first document merely “encouraged” respect for human rights.
3. What bureaucratic vocabulary? This answer choice is playing on your outside assumption that the UN is too bureaucratic. This assumption is common among Americans, but it has no basis in the passage.
4. The author’s goal wasn’t to summarize the two documents. Instead, the author wanted to show that the second document had stronger human rights language. The quoted sections demonstrate this.
5. The author never mentions prose style. Further, there’s no difference in prose style.
    
   The second quote has stronger language, but that’s because the document has stronger ideas. The difference is due to different content, not different style.