LSAT 136 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q14

RC Question 14 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Passage B talks abstractly about fingerprint analysis. Passage A only talks about fingerprint analysis in order to prove a conclusion in a specific case. The judge’s argument is focussed on one defendant’s claims.

You may have found C tempting. Passage B may seem tentative because they claim we don’t know if fingerprint analysis works.

But, they are 100% certain that we don’t know. They’re making a strong claim. Tentative would mean admitting they’re not sure if their argument is correct.

Tentative: I’m 75% certain that we are correct.
Certain: I’m 100% certain that we don’t know what we’re doing.

___________

1. Passage B is somewhat pessimistic about fingerprint analysis, since we have no idea whether it works.
2. CORRECT. Passage B talks about fingerprint analysis in general. Passage A focussed on one defendant’s case, even if the judge used evidence about fingerprint analysis to support their argument.
3. Passage B is very clear in its claim: we don’t know whether fingerprint analysis works. If the author had been tentative in their claim, they would have said they weren’t confident about their evidence.
4. Passage B doesn’t show respect or disrespect to opposing claims. The author just makes an argument without reference to opponents.
   And passage A isn’t disrespectful to opposing claims. The judge is fair to the defendant even though they disagree with him.
5. Passage B cites research. Their assumptions are substantiated.