LSAT 141 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q26

RC Question 26 Explanation

DISCUSSION: I originally got this question wrong because I didn’t read carefully. The Indian Nonintercourse Act is only about the transfer of property currently owned by Natives.

The Nonintercourse act is not about restoring Native land that was unjustly taken. That’s a completely different topic, that was discussed in the second paragraph of passage B. Paragraph 2 of Passage B is a theoretical discussion. It has nothing to do with the Nonintercourse act.

___________

1. The purpose of the Nonintercourse Act is the just transfer of property. It has nothing to do with legitimizing existing holdings.
   For instance, if land had been improperly seized in 1785 (before the act) the act could not apply to that seizure. The law only covers current transfers.
2. The Nonintercourse Act was a new law. It didn’t clarify existing laws….it added to them.
3. Justice in acquisition is in lines 12-14. It covers acquisition of property that no one owns yet. The Indian Nonintercourse Act deals with land already owned by Natives.
4. CORRECT. Lines 41-44 pretty much say this directly. The law governs transfer of Native lands, and the intent is to make sure transfers are just.
5. I chose this answer. Paragraph two of passage B is about rectification of past injustices. But the Nonintercourse Act is only intended to prevent new injustices from occurring during land transfers.