PrepTest 153, Section 1, Question 21
Criminal courts frequently rely on accomplice witnesses (witnesses(444 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(11 more words not shown)
- AIt attempts to(8 more words not shown)
- BIt attempts to(10 more words not shown)
- CIt summarizes the(7 more words not shown)
- DIt outlines potential(10 more words not shown)
- EIt expands upon(7 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The fourth paragraph tells us that jurors give confession evidence undue weight even when they know about incentives. The final paragraph asks, in effect, why they would do that.
What we’re looking for
Its answer is that people tend to explain actions through internal dispositions rather than external pressures. Jurors infer guilt from a confession or atonement from an informant's testimony, overlooking the incentive that could explain either behavior. That's an explanation of the earlier finding, not a new proposal for fixing the courts.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
The phenomenon is jurors' failure to account adequately for incentives. The final paragraph supplies a psychological explanation: a tendency to focus on the person's character or attitudes instead of the surrounding situation. That connects the two paragraphs in the order the author presents them.
- B
The final paragraph accepts the earlier concern and explains it. It doesn't challenge the finding that jurors give confession evidence undue weight.
- C
It adds a reason for the behavior, supported by a study. That goes beyond summarizing the previous discussion.
- D
Explaining why a problem occurs isn't the same as proposing a solution. The author doesn't outline changes to cross-examination, jury instructions, or incentives here.
- E
The first paragraph introduces accomplice witnesses and jailhouse informants and describes the information they provide. It doesn't propose a reform for the final paragraph to expand upon.
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