The protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best. It is true that the Fifth Amendment states that the Government may not take private property for public use without compensation, but it is the government that defines private property.

Which of the following is most likely the point the author is leading up to?

A. Individual rights that are protected by the Supreme Court are secure against government encroachment.
B. Private property is neither more nor less than that which the government says is private property.
C. The government has no authority to deprive an individual of his liberty.
D. No government that acts arbitrarily can be justified.
E. The keystone of American democracy is the Constitution.
_________________

Push +1 kudos button please, if you like my post

The protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best. It is true that the Fifth Amendment states that the Government may not take private property for public use without compensation, but it is the government that defines private property.

Crux of the argument is saying that the govt can make up the rules as it goes along

A. Individual rights that are protected by the Supreme Court are secure against government encroachment - OOS
B. Private property is neither more nor less than that which the government says is private property - Looks good as the article says that the govt defines what it cannot take so therefore it has the freedom to take whatever it wantsC. The government has no authority to deprive an individual of his liberty. OOS
D. No government that acts arbitrarily can be justified. The prose inplies a govt that acts arbitrarily but doesn't comment on this point
E. The keystone of American democracy is the Constitution. OOS
_________________

If you find my post helpful, please GIVE ME SOME KUDOS!

The protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best. It is true that the Fifth Amendment states that the Government may not take private property for public use without compensation, but it is the government that defines private property.

Which of the following is most likely the point the author is leading up to?


First thing to realize is to identify what is the question type. If you are not able to categorize, there is a high probability that you may end up choosing the wrong answer.

So this question falls under "Logically Complete the Passage" . Once you have determined the category, you know how GMAT may play and makes a wrong answer.
The author is sarcastic in his/her argument and is looking for a fact that will validate his/her claim. So look out for fact that will support his/her claim that the protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best.
What will make his conclusion strong or strengthen it.
the protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best. is the conclusion of the author.

It is true that the Fifth Amendment states that the Government may not take private property for public use without compensation is a counter argument, which author only uses to defend his argument from attack. But the author has not given any premise on which his conclusion is based.

So we expect author to mention a premise which will justify or support his claim.


A. Individual rights that are protected by the Supreme Court are secure against government encroachment. --- Yes, but this will weaken the author's conclusion and we need something that will strengthen his claim.
B. Private property is neither more nor less than that which the government says is private property. --- hmnnn... finally author mention something to defend his claim that the protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best --- Right Answer
C. The government has no authority to deprive an individual of his liberty. --- this is fact, but it only supports counter argument, this does not support author's conclusion.
D. No government that acts arbitrarily can be justified. --- This is an opinion, we are not looking for opinion. We are looking for a premise that support the author's conclusion
E. The keystone of American democracy is the Constitution. --- This is a fact, but does not support authors claim that
the protection of the right of property by the Constitutions is tenuous at best