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- Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:48 pm
#36469
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14512)
The correct answer choice is (B)
Lines 11-14 are comprised of the following sentence: “But this decision has placed on provincial
courts the enormous burden of interpreting and translating the necessarily general constitutional
language into specifi c rulings.” Because the remainder of the passage goes on to provide examples
that relate to this idea, we know that this sentence helps explain why there are problems with
protecting aboriginal rights.
Answer choice (A): This response goes too far in characterizing lines 11-14. Although the author
implied that the rulings were inconsistent with each other, the author did not intend to imply that the
decisions of courts rarely conform to the goals of reform law.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The vagueness of the constitutional
language, and the burden that the interpretation of that language places on provincial courts is stated
in lines 11-18 as the reason it is so diffi cult to protect aboriginal rights. That is a systemic problem,
because the need to interpret and apply law is integral to the whole of the court system.
Answer choice (C): At fi rst glance, this response seems very similar to the correct answer, especially
because it refers to a “specifi c source,” which correctly refers to constitutional language. However,
this choice can be easily eliminated because it does not refer specifi cally to the aboriginal peoples.
The passage has a very narrow scope, so this response, which can refer to all Canadian constitutional
reform, is unsupported.
Answer choice (D): This response is once again overbroad, because it refers in general to all
constitutional reforms in Canada. Since it is uncertain that this aspect exists in all reforms, this
response is unsupported. Furthermore, the passage more specifi cally concerned the application, not
the creation, of a constitutional reform, so this response is somewhat off-topic.
Answer choice (E): The purpose of the passage is certainly not to criticize the use of general
language, because lines 11-14 refer to the “necessarily” general language. Further, this answer is far
too broad in stating that the referenced lines imply a criticism of the Canadian constitution.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14512)
The correct answer choice is (B)
Lines 11-14 are comprised of the following sentence: “But this decision has placed on provincial
courts the enormous burden of interpreting and translating the necessarily general constitutional
language into specifi c rulings.” Because the remainder of the passage goes on to provide examples
that relate to this idea, we know that this sentence helps explain why there are problems with
protecting aboriginal rights.
Answer choice (A): This response goes too far in characterizing lines 11-14. Although the author
implied that the rulings were inconsistent with each other, the author did not intend to imply that the
decisions of courts rarely conform to the goals of reform law.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The vagueness of the constitutional
language, and the burden that the interpretation of that language places on provincial courts is stated
in lines 11-18 as the reason it is so diffi cult to protect aboriginal rights. That is a systemic problem,
because the need to interpret and apply law is integral to the whole of the court system.
Answer choice (C): At fi rst glance, this response seems very similar to the correct answer, especially
because it refers to a “specifi c source,” which correctly refers to constitutional language. However,
this choice can be easily eliminated because it does not refer specifi cally to the aboriginal peoples.
The passage has a very narrow scope, so this response, which can refer to all Canadian constitutional
reform, is unsupported.
Answer choice (D): This response is once again overbroad, because it refers in general to all
constitutional reforms in Canada. Since it is uncertain that this aspect exists in all reforms, this
response is unsupported. Furthermore, the passage more specifi cally concerned the application, not
the creation, of a constitutional reform, so this response is somewhat off-topic.
Answer choice (E): The purpose of the passage is certainly not to criticize the use of general
language, because lines 11-14 refer to the “necessarily” general language. Further, this answer is far
too broad in stating that the referenced lines imply a criticism of the Canadian constitution.