PrepTest 128, Section 4, Question 23

What we’re looking for

Working the answers

• A

  This is a clear rule distinguishing children from adults. It doesn't describe an attempt to adjust each person's treatment based on their unique background circumstances.

• B
  Correct

  The teacher goes beyond evaluating the work and considers each student's individual background. That matches the treatment of the murderer's childhood: looking beyond the conduct being judged to the circumstances that helped shape the person.

  This refines our starting prediction. We don't need a teacher who claims literally to know everything. We need the kind of judgment that reaches into individual background factors to determine deserved treatment. That is what both writers criticize.

• C

  Rank and years of service are defined workplace criteria. Allocating parking by them doesn't involve weighing each employee's personal disadvantages or life history.

• D

  The court is remedying a demonstrated instance of discrimination. B's criticism concerns going beyond such acts to correct unmerited disadvantages generally. This example doesn't show that extra step.

• E

  This is tempting because the university considers more than academics. But extracurricular activities and community service are documented achievements in the application. Adding those kinds of performance isn't the same as adjusting an evaluation for the unique background circumstances that produced someone's performance. The teacher in answer B makes that latter move.