Passage - General Questions

[Administrator]

Please post below with any questions!

[eronquillo12]

Hi- can you break down the passage like in other passage explanations? Usually there is a Passage Meaning explanation before the questions, but there isn't anything written here. I missed question 21 as I don't see how C is the underlying argument for both passages.

[Shannon Parker]

Passage A lays out the objections that some trial court judges have to conducting independent research, and then offers reasons why those objections may not be determinative of the issue. Passage B explains why appellate court judges should not use independent research.

Question 21 asks "which one of the following principles underlies the arguments in both passages?"

At first glance, it does not appear that there would be an underlying issue because passage a deals with the trial court, and offers the overall opinion that independent research can be used by judges while passage b deals with appellate judges and does not believe that independent research should be used.

However, when read closely, the last sentence of passage a which reads "independent research supplements, rather than replaces, the parties' presentation of the evidence, so the parties always frame the debate." When taken in conjunction with passage b's argument that appellate judges should only consult the record of evidence presented at trial, it is clear that answer choice "C" is the correct answer.

Hope this helps.