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- Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:00 am
#36445
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=7465)
Main Point. The correct answer choice is (A)
You should remember that, in general, the primary purpose of any passage or part of the passage is
to lead to establishing the author’s main point (and thus these questions are classifi ed as Main Point
questions), so the correct answer will have to do with the fact that the author defends the Hippocratic
oath.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The author generally defends the core
values of the Hippocratic oath, and this response correctly refers to that defense.
Answer choice (B): The author’s purpose is to defend the code, which is different from chastising the
critics.
Furthermore, the test makers threw a detail error in to attract test takers who may have over-read into
the text. Since the author never refers to the critics as “within the medical community,” this response
characterizes the author’s discussion beyond what is supported by the passage.
Answer choice (C): The author does make this argument, however this is not the author’s primary
purpose. The correct response to a primary purpose question must refer to the author’s ultimate
conclusion, not merely a premise in the author’s argument.
Answer choice (D): Some test takers might perceive that the author has evaluated “pros and cons.”
However, the author does not outline the pros and cons of revising a code, and so this response is
incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This was the most popular incorrect answer choice. On the surface this answer
is attractive, but a close reading of the answer reveals that the answer is wrong. The author does not
propose a revision to the code; instead, a possible method or guideline for revision is suggested.
Remember, a proposed revision would contain an actual suggestion for direct changes. The text
of the passage in lines 50-52 only vaguely describes “adaptations at the oath’s periphery by some
combination of revision, supplementation, and modern interpretation.” That vague description is
insuffi cient to justify the language of this answer choice.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=7465)
Main Point. The correct answer choice is (A)
You should remember that, in general, the primary purpose of any passage or part of the passage is
to lead to establishing the author’s main point (and thus these questions are classifi ed as Main Point
questions), so the correct answer will have to do with the fact that the author defends the Hippocratic
oath.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The author generally defends the core
values of the Hippocratic oath, and this response correctly refers to that defense.
Answer choice (B): The author’s purpose is to defend the code, which is different from chastising the
critics.
Furthermore, the test makers threw a detail error in to attract test takers who may have over-read into
the text. Since the author never refers to the critics as “within the medical community,” this response
characterizes the author’s discussion beyond what is supported by the passage.
Answer choice (C): The author does make this argument, however this is not the author’s primary
purpose. The correct response to a primary purpose question must refer to the author’s ultimate
conclusion, not merely a premise in the author’s argument.
Answer choice (D): Some test takers might perceive that the author has evaluated “pros and cons.”
However, the author does not outline the pros and cons of revising a code, and so this response is
incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This was the most popular incorrect answer choice. On the surface this answer
is attractive, but a close reading of the answer reveals that the answer is wrong. The author does not
propose a revision to the code; instead, a possible method or guideline for revision is suggested.
Remember, a proposed revision would contain an actual suggestion for direct changes. The text
of the passage in lines 50-52 only vaguely describes “adaptations at the oath’s periphery by some
combination of revision, supplementation, and modern interpretation.” That vague description is
insuffi cient to justify the language of this answer choice.