Reading comp PrepTest 122 · Section 3 · Question 5

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

The author states which Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

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

Question Type

Legal

Strategy Overview

Remind ourselves of the main point of the passage, then head to the answers, focusing on those that line up with the main point and then using our notes/the passage to find the correct answer

Answer Anticipation

The topic that this question stem asks about is the central topic of the passage, so the answer for this answer could show up essentially anywhere in the passage.As such, we’ll need to rely on our big-picture understanding of the passage to answer this question. We should start by reminding ourselves of the main point (either by reviewing what we said after reading the passage or by rereading our answer to the main point question). From there, we can head to the answers, deferring on those that don’t line up with the main point. For those that do, we’ll use our notes and the passage to see if it’s correct.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Despite appearances, computer displays Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited

    (A) (Lines 7-25) By our count, the Author presents somewhere around 5 advantages of computer displays over conventional forms of evidence. While she believes that there are also disadvantages, that doesn’t undermine her view that practical advantages of this type of evidence do exist.

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

    (B) (Line 26) This answer discusses the critics, so we should look at Paragraph 2. The passage discusses only some critics, and they are “urging caution,” not calling for their ban.

  3. C
    Judges should forewarn jurors Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem

    (C) (Lines 54-56) This answer talks about what “should” be done, so we should look for support in Paragraph 3, where the Author makes recommendations for safeguards. And the second one listed there matches this answer almost exactly, so it’s correct.

  4. D
    Computer displays are used Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited

    (D) (Lines 21-23) This answer seems to be referencing one of the advantages in Paragraph 1. However, there, it states that computer displays are especially valuable in complex or technical trials, not that they’re primarily used in such trials, so this answer is unsupported.

  5. E
    Litigators who utilize computer–generated Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited

    (E) (Lines 56-61) This answer talks about what “should” be done, so we should look for support in Paragraph 3, where the Author makes recommendations for safeguards. There, it is stated that financial aid should be granted to ensure that both sides can use computer displays, but it never says that this should be done by opposing counsel - the suggestion doesn’t specify where the money comes from.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 2%
  2. B 2%
  3. C Credited 89%
  4. D 1%
  5. E 6%

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