LSAT Discussion Forum

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (A).

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

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

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

Why is D incorrect? I don't understand

Hi Sherri,

Answer D states "argue that confrontational sit-in tactics were necessary in order for the U.S. civil rights movement to make inroads against racial discrimination in the late 1950s and early 1960s."

There are two main problems with Answer D.

The first is that the passage doesn't actually argue that the sit-in tactics were necessary. The passage does mention that "the influence of these (sit-in) demonstrations on the determination of the student activists was particularly visible in two events: the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the birth of a second form of sit-ins called Freedom Rides." So while the earlier sit-ins did influence these later activities of the civil rights movement, the idea of necessity isn't mentioned.

The second (and actually more fundamental) problem is that this passage is primarily about the Freedom Rides. (In fact, we refer to this passage as The Freedom Rides passage.) What makes this tricky/confusing is that the Freedom Rides are a form of sit-in, but are not the same as the earlier sit-ins described in Answer A. In the passage, the earlier sit-ins influenced "the birth of a second form of sit-ins called Freedom Rides."

Even though the Freedom Rides are really only discussed in the final paragraph, they are the primary focus of the passage. Specifically, how they changed the civil rights movement. The lines that best capture this are "But the development that marked the clearest turning point for the civil rights movement was the Freedom Rides" and "The Freedom Rides thus helped take the civil rights movement to a new level...." The first two paragraphs set up the historical background/context that led to the Freedom Rides.

The answer that best captures this is Answer A. Note that the "new tactic" mentioned in Answer A refers to the Freedom Rides, not the earlier sit-ins.

Jeff Wren wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:03 pm Hi Sherri,

Answer D states "argue that confrontational sit-in tactics were necessary in order for the U.S. civil rights movement to make inroads against racial discrimination in the late 1950s and early 1960s."

There are two main problems with Answer D.

The first is that the passage doesn't actually argue that the sit-in tactics were necessary. The passage does mention that "the influence of these (sit-in) demonstrations on the determination of the student activists was particularly visible in two events: the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the birth of a second form of sit-ins called Freedom Rides." So while the earlier sit-ins did influence these later activities of the civil rights movement, the idea of necessity isn't mentioned.

The second (and actually more fundamental) problem is that this passage is primarily about the Freedom Rides. (In fact, we refer to this passage as The Freedom Rides passage.) What makes this tricky/confusing is that the Freedom Rides are a form of sit-in, but are not the same as the earlier sit-ins described in Answer A. In the passage, the earlier sit-ins influenced "the birth of a second form of sit-ins called Freedom Rides."

Even though the Freedom Rides are really only discussed in the final paragraph, they are the primary focus of the passage. Specifically, how they changed the civil rights movement. The lines that best capture this are "But the development that marked the clearest turning point for the civil rights movement was the Freedom Rides" and "The Freedom Rides thus helped take the civil rights movement to a new level...." The first two paragraphs set up the historical background/context that led to the Freedom Rides.

The answer that best captures this is Answer A. Note that the "new tactic" mentioned in Answer A refers to the Freedom Rides, not the earlier sit-ins.

For the same reason that the passage is more detailed towards Freedom Rides, is B incorrect? Because first half of passage kinda hints towards B?

TootyFrooty wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 7:38 pm

Jeff Wren wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:03 pm Hi Sherri,

Answer D states "argue that confrontational sit-in tactics were necessary in order for the U.S. civil rights movement to make inroads against racial discrimination in the late 1950s and early 1960s."

There are two main problems with Answer D.

The first is that the passage doesn't actually argue that the sit-in tactics were necessary. The passage does mention that "the influence of these (sit-in) demonstrations on the determination of the student activists was particularly visible in two events: the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the birth of a second form of sit-ins called Freedom Rides." So while the earlier sit-ins did influence these later activities of the civil rights movement, the idea of necessity isn't mentioned.

The second (and actually more fundamental) problem is that this passage is primarily about the Freedom Rides. (In fact, we refer to this passage as The Freedom Rides passage.) What makes this tricky/confusing is that the Freedom Rides are a form of sit-in, but are not the same as the earlier sit-ins described in Answer A. In the passage, the earlier sit-ins influenced "the birth of a second form of sit-ins called Freedom Rides."

Even though the Freedom Rides are really only discussed in the final paragraph, they are the primary focus of the passage. Specifically, how they changed the civil rights movement. The lines that best capture this are "But the development that marked the clearest turning point for the civil rights movement was the Freedom Rides" and "The Freedom Rides thus helped take the civil rights movement to a new level...." The first two paragraphs set up the historical background/context that led to the Freedom Rides.

The answer that best captures this is Answer A. Note that the "new tactic" mentioned in Answer A refers to the Freedom Rides, not the earlier sit-ins.

For the same reason that the passage is more detailed towards Freedom Rides, is B incorrect? Because first half of passage kinda hints towards B?

Hi TootyFrooty,

Yes, you have the right idea! This passage doesn’t focus solely on sit-in demonstrations, but rather how they were evolutionary and what came from them. Sit-ins are one part of the sum of the passage. Additionally, “chronicling” — like documenting — seems to be a much more passive descriptor in answer choice (B) than what’s actually happening. Instead, the passage is concerned with what developed from the sit-ins and how these developments affected the work of student activists. Great job!