#23 - Specific Reference, Function

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (D).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[icecream]

The question is about what the word "directive" means in this passage. I thought it was answer choice E, "Compelling", because it seemed more controlling than the correct answer "Guiding." Guiding seems too passive to me. Could someone please explain why "directive" means "guiding" in this passage? Thanks

[Jeff Wren]

Hi icecream,

(Your question is specifically about question 23 of the RC section of the February 1996 LSAT. Your post will be moved to that forum thread so that other students will be able to find it more easily.)

This is a tricky specific reference question that requires an understanding of how the word "directive" (line 27) is used in the context of the sentence in the passage.

The sentence begins "Maravall regards the baroque as a culture of control and containment, or, more dynamically, as a directive culture, designed to reintegrate and unite a society living under the shadow of social and intellectual disruption" (lines 25-29).

The dictionary definition of "directive" that is most relevant is "serving on intended to guide, govern, or influence." If you replace "directive" with "guiding" in the sentence, the meaning remains the same.

While the word "compelling" is perhaps stronger than "guiding," it doesn't really fit in the context of the sentence. The key to understanding how "directive" is used in this sentence is to understand its relation to the first half of the sentence. The first half describes baroque "as a culture of control and containment." The sentence then states "or, more dynamically ...." What needs to follow is something that is not just a repetition of the first have of the sentence, but something that is more dynamic, or active, positive, energetic, innovative. "Compelling" means "not able to be refuted or resisted." That description wouldn't be "more dynamic" than the first half of the sentence. "Guiding" does work as a more dynamic, positive, etc. approach and better fits the context.