Logical reasoning PrepTest 130 · Section 1 · Question 4

Incorrect. It was noted that the difference in verdicts were because of the jury picking up on the judge's nonverbal cues, not differences in the precision of the instructions.

Incorrect. In both of the situations described, the judge should have had the same perceived status, and yet her influence changed, so this answer isn't illustrated by the stimulus and doesn't explain the difference outcomes.

Incorrect. The stimulus notes that the judge's nonverbal cues were picked up on by juries when they gave technical instructions, influencing their behavior. If anything, the stimulus illustrates that nonverbal behavior can be an effective means of communication.

Incorrect. There's no discussion of real trials, let alone a discussion of them being better suited for experimentation.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Illustration

Stimulus Summary:
Juries given technical instructions: Verdicts mirrored judge's opinion (they picked up on nonverbal cues)

Juries given nontechnical instructions: Verdicts more likely to conflict with judge's opinion

Answer Anticipation:
The stimulus compares the verdicts when juries were given technical instructions vs. non-technical instructions. In the former, they picked up on nonverbal cues from the judge and thus mirrored her opinion. In the latter, they were more likely to not mirror her opinion—presumably, they were more likely to make up their own minds. Since we're looking for an answer that is illustrated by this, we should find something that explains this different outcome—something about how a judge's nonverbal communication can impact a jury's verdict.

Answer Explanation:
In the two different situations—technical vs. nontechnical instructions—the verdict was different. That highlights the instructions can influence the verdict, thus illustrating this answer.

Key Takeaway:
Illustration questions are all about finding an answer that abstractly describes the scenario described in the stimulus. Stick to the details there, rule out answers that bring in unmentioned information, and get the details right and you'll be golden.