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- Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:55 pm
#33624
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13783)
The correct answer choice is (C)
This question asks us to determine the most appropriate title for passage A and passage B. To do so, we need to evaluate the scope of the two passages, and determine a title that is neither overly restrictive nor too broad for each one. While it may be difficult to arrive at an exact prephrase, knowing the main point and purpose of each passage would be tremendously helpful in eliminating the four incorrect answer choices.
Answer choice (A): “The Use and Abuse of Patents” would not be a terrible title for passage A; however, “use” is somewhat misleading as the author only focuses on the abuse of patents, not their general use. More importantly, the second title is outside the scope of passage B. Although its author is clearly opposed to software patents (lines 38-41), the primary purpose of that passage is to describe a software maker’s response to the abuse of patents, not argue in favor of their elimination. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This Opposite answer choice can be immediately eliminated, because the author of passage B opposes, rather than defends, the use of software patents.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. “Patenting the Obvious” is an appropriate title for passage A, which describes how patenting obvious inventions has resulted in the abuse of patents. Passage B is also appropriately titled “Patents: A Defensive Policy,” because the primary purpose of the second passage is to describe the defensive policy adopted by a software maker in response to patent abuse.
Answer choice (D): Neither title is appropriate for either passage. Passage A does not attribute the problems in the patent system to some “misunderstanding” of patent policies. Likewise, keeping software “free but safe” may sound attractive in the real world, but it has nothing to do with the argument in passage B. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): There is no apology in passage B, making this answer choice easy to eliminate.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=13783)
The correct answer choice is (C)
This question asks us to determine the most appropriate title for passage A and passage B. To do so, we need to evaluate the scope of the two passages, and determine a title that is neither overly restrictive nor too broad for each one. While it may be difficult to arrive at an exact prephrase, knowing the main point and purpose of each passage would be tremendously helpful in eliminating the four incorrect answer choices.
Answer choice (A): “The Use and Abuse of Patents” would not be a terrible title for passage A; however, “use” is somewhat misleading as the author only focuses on the abuse of patents, not their general use. More importantly, the second title is outside the scope of passage B. Although its author is clearly opposed to software patents (lines 38-41), the primary purpose of that passage is to describe a software maker’s response to the abuse of patents, not argue in favor of their elimination. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This Opposite answer choice can be immediately eliminated, because the author of passage B opposes, rather than defends, the use of software patents.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. “Patenting the Obvious” is an appropriate title for passage A, which describes how patenting obvious inventions has resulted in the abuse of patents. Passage B is also appropriately titled “Patents: A Defensive Policy,” because the primary purpose of the second passage is to describe the defensive policy adopted by a software maker in response to patent abuse.
Answer choice (D): Neither title is appropriate for either passage. Passage A does not attribute the problems in the patent system to some “misunderstanding” of patent policies. Likewise, keeping software “free but safe” may sound attractive in the real world, but it has nothing to do with the argument in passage B. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): There is no apology in passage B, making this answer choice easy to eliminate.