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- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Tue May 30, 2017 3:11 pm
#35507
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14300)
The correct answer choice is (D)
To answer this question, you need to summarize the main point of passage B. As we know from our
analysis above, passage B is critical of fingerprint identification as it is practiced today.
Answer choice (A): The author of passage B never suggested that defendants lack the opportunity to
challenge faulty fingerprint evidence at trial. This answer choice falls entirely outside the scope of
the discussion.
Answer choice (B): While the author of passage B might agree that fingerprint evidence is unreliable
in its current state, this answer choice is both too vague and too extreme. The focus of passage B is
the practice of fingerprint identification—how it is obtained, under what standards, and at what error
rate—not inherent unreliability of fingerprint evidence. Furthermore, the author of passage B stops
short of implying that criminal trials should avoid using fingerprint evidence altogether.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice states a claim that can be proven with the information
contained in the passage (lines 62-65). However, this is not the main point of the passage, as it is
only one of several allegations made against the practice of fingerprint identification. As a rule of
thumb, be wary of Main Point answers that merely restate the very last sentence(s) of a passage.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice, as each paragraph of passage B describes
a particular problem with the current practice of fingerprint identification. Despite the relatively
strong language of this answer choice, there is no evidence of exaggeration given the overtly critical
perspective of the author.
Answer choice (E): The author of passage B makes no mention of a growing consensus within the
legal community regarding the reliability of fingerprint evidence.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14300)
The correct answer choice is (D)
To answer this question, you need to summarize the main point of passage B. As we know from our
analysis above, passage B is critical of fingerprint identification as it is practiced today.
Answer choice (A): The author of passage B never suggested that defendants lack the opportunity to
challenge faulty fingerprint evidence at trial. This answer choice falls entirely outside the scope of
the discussion.
Answer choice (B): While the author of passage B might agree that fingerprint evidence is unreliable
in its current state, this answer choice is both too vague and too extreme. The focus of passage B is
the practice of fingerprint identification—how it is obtained, under what standards, and at what error
rate—not inherent unreliability of fingerprint evidence. Furthermore, the author of passage B stops
short of implying that criminal trials should avoid using fingerprint evidence altogether.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice states a claim that can be proven with the information
contained in the passage (lines 62-65). However, this is not the main point of the passage, as it is
only one of several allegations made against the practice of fingerprint identification. As a rule of
thumb, be wary of Main Point answers that merely restate the very last sentence(s) of a passage.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice, as each paragraph of passage B describes
a particular problem with the current practice of fingerprint identification. Despite the relatively
strong language of this answer choice, there is no evidence of exaggeration given the overtly critical
perspective of the author.
Answer choice (E): The author of passage B makes no mention of a growing consensus within the
legal community regarding the reliability of fingerprint evidence.