LSAT 132 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q14

RC Question 14 Explanation

DISCUSSION: This is a very tricky question. I was stuck between B and C, until I realized I had misunderstood the 3rd paragraph.

In the second paragraph, the author claims that custom illustrations will be technically accurate. In the 3rd paragraph, he raises a subtler criticism: maybe custom images are biased, even if they’re technically accurate. Lines 33-36 directly rebut this attack.

Then the paragraph talks about medical textbook illustrations. Why? In light of question 14, I now think they’re describing medical textbook images to show that the high level of detail in medical textbooks may actually introduce bias using color, detail, emphasis, etc.

Whereas custom images are made solely for the purpose of clarifying the issue at hand. They are less likely to bias judges and juries.

___________

1. Careful. A “greater” use. The author didn’t say we should use more custom images than we do right now. Instead, they’re defending our current usage.
2. CORRECT. See the explanation above.
3. I was very tempted by this. The 3rd paragraph does help show that images from medical textbooks are not well suited to the courtroom. But….that’s not the purpose of the 3rd paragraph. The purpose of the 3rd paragraph is to show that custom illustrations are not biased, including when compared to medical textbook illustrations. 
4. Nonsense. The third paragraph is an argument. Notice the word “but” in line 33. 
5. Not quite. The third paragraph does do this, but it’s not the purpose. Notice the word “but” in line 33. The author is disagreeing with lines 30-33, and giving their opinion in lines 33-49. The 3rd paragraph is not mere description. It is an argument.
    
   The purpose of a paragraph is not what it does, but why it does what it does.