Reading comp PrepTest 122 · Section 3 · Question 1

Passage

Questions 1-6  .        The use of computer–generated visual displays in  . courtrooms is growing as awareness of their ability Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary

Topic: Legal Studies


Paragraph 1

  • Paragraph note
    • Trend and benefits of it
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Trend - Computer-generated visual aids in trials
    • Benefits:
      • Show different vantages
      • Highlight specifics
      • More impact on jury (better retention/stats)
      • Help with technical info
      • Seamless

Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • Critics - List of downsides
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Downsides - Abuse and misuse
      • Manipulate impression of event
      • Undermine critical faculties
      • Bias to one side if only one can afford them
      • Can incorporate evidence otherwise inadmissible

Paragraph 3

  • Paragraph note
    • Author - Steps to avoid misuse
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Steps to avoid misuse:
      • Counsel alert to misuse, data analyzed, judges vigilant
      • Judges forewarn juries
      • If one side uses, ensure other side can, too (financial aid)

Main Point: There are both pros and cons to the use of computer-generated visual displays in courtrooms, so practical steps must be taken to allow their use while avoiding their downsides.

Key Lines?

Lines 1-3 - A new trend

Line 15 - Pros are introduced

Lines 26-28 - Cons are introduced

Lines 46-47 - The Author weighs in and introduces a list of safeguards

Meta-Structure?

Resolving Debate by looking at Pros/Cons - The Author here presents the advantages of computer-generated visual displays in courtrooms (starting in Line 15, though a few are noted before then), and the disadvantages of that technology as brought up by some critics (Paragraph 2). When an Author presents the pros and cons of something, representing two sides of a debate, her opinion on the balance of those tends to be the main point - in other words, is the underlying idea a good one? Here, the Author splits the difference. She accepts both the advantages and disadvantages - the advantages explicitly by being the one to present them in Paragraph 1, and the disadvantages implicitly by recommending in Paragraph 3 safeguards to address them. Since the Author is recommending that the technology have safeguards put in place, that’s the main point, as summarized above.

Recommendation - The Author presents a series of practical steps that should be taken in order to prevent the abuse and misuse of computer-generated visuals in the courtroom. This serves as a recommendation that highlights her views on the pros and cons of the technology, which reinforces that as the main point, as summarized above.

Lists - Each of the paragraphs includes a list. Paragraph 1 has a list of advantages of computer-generated visual displays. Paragraph 2 has a list of disadvantages. Paragraph 3 has a recommended list of practical steps so that computer-generated visual displays can be used in courtrooms without being misused. The elements on these lists are going to be important in the questions, so we should be sure to have noted in some way the elements on each list. This can be with full notes in the margins, or with numbers inside the text to highlight where each starts. Develop your own method for doing so, but be sure to develop some method!

Last Thoughts?

These questions are likely going to be an exercise in time management because of how many elements were included across three lists, so let’s head to them ASAP!

Question prompt

Which one of the Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: A

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Question Type

Legal

Strategy Overview

Reiterate the main point as we summarized it after reading through the passage, then find the answer that best matches with it

Answer Anticipation

The Author here presents the advantages of computer-generated visual displays in courtrooms (starting in Line 15, though a few are noted before then), and the disadvantages of that technology as brought up by some critics (Paragraph 2).When an Author presents the Pros and Cons of something, representing two sides of a Debate, her opinion on the balance of those tends to be the main point - in other words, is the underlying idea a good one?Here, the Author splits the difference. She accepts both the advantages and disadvantages - the advantages explicitly by being the one to present them in Paragraph 1, and the disadvantages implicitly by recommending in Paragraph 3 safeguards to address them. Since the Author is Recommending that the technology have safeguards put in place, that’s the main point:There are both pros and cons to the use of computer-generated visual displays in courtrooms, so practical steps must be taken to allow their use while avoiding their downsides.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Those involved in court Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A matches the stem

    (A) (Lines 46-47) This answer accepts that computer-generated visual displays will be used in courtrooms (due to their advantages) but reflects the Author’s recommendation that practical steps are taken to prevent their misuse. That captures the Author’s overall view on the debate and her opinion on how to address the cons, making this correct answer.

  2. B
    The use of computer–generated Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited

    (B) (Lines 1-3; Lines 21-23) This answer captures the trend and one of the advantages, but it misses the Author’s view that there are downsides that need to be safeguarded against. It also misses the rest of the advantages, for that matter!

  3. C
    The persuasive nature of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited

    (C) (Lines 46-47) The Author argues for some practical steps that hardly amount to “the most sophisticated principles of jurisprudence.” Telling the jury that the visual displays might be biased isn’t all that sophisticated!

  4. D
    Litigators' prudent use of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited

    (D) (Lines 21-23) This answer addresses one potential advantage of these displays, but it ignores the others and the cons that the Author wants to safeguard against. The Author believes that these visual displays should be allowed only with these safeguards in place, and even then, there’s no claim that it will result in fairer trials. This answer is missing too much and what is present isn’t in scope.

  5. E
    Any disadvantages of computer–generated Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited

    (E) (Lines 38-42) First, this answer is too strong - the Author believes that the downsides can be mitigated with some practical steps, but there’s no indication that all the disadvantages can be eliminated. Second, the downsides don’t just involve intentional misuse - the Author brings up the argument that outside of intentional misuse, these images could also be “inherently misleading.” So this answer gets some of the details wrong and is too strong - so it’s wrong!

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A Credited 68%
  2. B 6%
  3. C 14%
  4. D 2%
  5. E 10%

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