PrepTest 148, Section 2, Question 5
The following passage is adapted from a journal(460 more words not shown)
The author's stance toward Rawls's(8 more words not shown)
- Ascholarly neutrality with(8 more words not shown)
- Bdisdain for its(9 more words not shown)
- Csympathy with its(7 more words not shown)
- Denthusiasm for its(7 more words not shown)
- Eadmiration for its(9 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The attitude has two parts. Rawls's answer is called “ingenious” and his approach “clever,” but the redistributionist consequence is introduced with “Unfortunately.” We should predict admiration with a reservation, then identify exactly what the reservation concerns.
What we’re looking for
Disliking a consequence is different from saying a theory's reasoning is weak or its plan is impossible to carry out.
Working the answers
- A
The writer is not neutral. The explicit praise and disapproval both show evaluation.
- B
Nothing suggests the praise conceals disdain. We should not invent hidden contempt when the writer openly identifies both an attractive feature and a concern.
- C
The reservation concerns redistribution, not the cogency—the persuasiveness or soundness—of Rawls's reasoning. The writer does not identify a faulty step in the theory's logic.
- D
We are not told that Rawls's proposal is impractical. Providing goods at others' expense is treated as an unwelcome implication, not as something that cannot be done. A concern about what a theory requires is different from a concern about whether it can be implemented.
- ECorrect
Ingenuity matches the explicit praise. Misgivings about implications match the concern that a minimum guarantee entails redistribution. This accounts for both sides of the writer's attitude without changing the nature of the criticism.
More Author's Opinion questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Author's Opinion questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.