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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
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E says that "A constitution is a liberal constitution if it is possible to interpret it in a liberal way". The stimulus says that written constitution cannot be said liberal unless the procedures written are "interpreted and applied". The emphasis on implementation of procedures is overlooked in option E.
E would be true if it would be "A constitution is a liberal constitution if it is possible to interpret & apply it in a liberal way"

Only B option remains from others to be true.
Hope I am able to clear your doubt.
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
IMO, B

The reason being the the last line implies that constitution becomes liberal only when is it interpreted and applied in a liberal way.
Option B uses 'merely' to depict that application of the constitution DOES play a role in determining the nature of the constitution.


Quote:
The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherently more liberal than unwritten ones is false. No written constitution is more than a paper with words on it until those words are both interpreted and applied. Properly understood, then, a constitution is the sum of those procedures through which the power of the state is legitimately exercised and limited. Therefore, even a written constitution becomes a liberal constitution only when it is interpreted and applied in a liberal way.

If the statements in the argument are all true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them?
(A) A careful analysis of the written text of a constitution can show that the constitution is not a liberal one.
(B) It is impossible to determine that a written constitution is liberal merely through careful analysis of the written text.
(C) There are no advantages to having a written rather than an unwritten constitution.
(D) Constitutions that are not written are more likely to be liberal than are constitutions that are written.
(E) A constitution is a liberal constitution if it is possible to interpret it in a liberal way.


Wats the OA??
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
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OA is B. Taken from Barron's LSAT. ( googled it ).

E) is true because the argument says that it is liberal constitution only when interpreted in a liberal way. The option however says "if its possible to interpret in a liberal way". Possibility of interpretation does not equal the actual interpretation. It has to be interpreted, not just whether the possibility exists or not.
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Must Be True-SN. The correct answer choice is (B)

Answer choice (A): Since a constitution becomes liberal or otherwise ONLY WHEN it is interpreted and applied in a liberal fashion, a careful analysis of written text is definitely not sufficient to show whether or not a constitution is liberal, and this choice is wrong. If you eliminated this choice because the stimulus did not discuss what proves that a constitution is not liberal, you got away with one. The second and third sentences establish that a constitution has no nature until it is interpreted and applied. Those conditions remain necessary for any interpretation, not merely the one mentioned in the last sentence.

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice, and is exactly what the stimulus is driving at in the last sentence. It is necessary that we observe both interpretation and application before we can tell that a written constitution is liberal, so analysis is not enough.

Answer choice (C): The stimulus never suggested that written or unwritten constitutions were better, and no comparison between them could be justified by the stimulus, so this choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (D): There is no information in the stimulus that leads to this conclusion, and this choice is incorrect. You should not assume that unwritten constitutions require less interpretation, or are more likely to be liberal, when the stimulus has not given you any information about such constitutions.

Answer choice (E): Since a constitution is liberal only after actual interpretation and application, mere possibility does not make a constitution liberal, and this choice is wrong. Also, this choice could be contradictory to the main point of the stimulus. If this choice were true, certain constitutions might be inherently more liberal than others.

Source: https://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewtopic.php?t=8845
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherently more liberal than unwritten ones is false. No written constitution is more than a paper with words on it until those words are both interpreted and applied. Properly understood, then, a constitution is the sum of those procedures through which the power of the state is legitimately exercised and limited. Therefore, even a written constitution becomes a liberal constitution only when it is interpreted and applied in a liberal way.

If the statements in the argument are all true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them?
(A) A careful analysis of the written text of a constitution can show that the constitution is not a liberal one.
(B) It is impossible to determine that a written constitution is liberal merely through careful analysis of the written text. - CORRECT - They are not more than paper and pen until they are interpreted and applied.
(C) There are no advantages to having a written rather than an unwritten constitution.
(D) Constitutions that are not written are more likely to be liberal than are constitutions that are written.
(E) A constitution is a liberal constitution if it is possible to interpret it in a liberal way.
-
NOT ONLY INTERPRET BUT ALSO APPLIED.

Answer should be B rather than E. because of highlightened text.
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
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angel2009 wrote:
The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherently more liberal than unwritten ones is false. No written constitution is more than a paper with words on it until those words are both interpreted and applied. Properly understood, then, a constitution is the sum of those procedures through which the power of the state is legitimately exercised and limited. Therefore, even a written constitution becomes a liberal constitution only when it is interpreted and applied in a liberal way.

If the statements in the argument are all true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them?

(A) A careful analysis of the written text of a constitution can show that the constitution is not a liberal one.
(B) It is impossible to determine that a written constitution is liberal merely through careful analysis of the written text.
(C) There are no advantages to having a written rather than an unwritten constitution.
(D) Constitutions that are not written are more likely to be liberal than are constitutions that are written.
(E) A constitution is a liberal constitution if it is possible to interpret it in a liberal way.


Same stem Conclusion question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-frequent ... 06603.html
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
Nightmare007 wrote:
The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherently more liberal than unwritten ones is false. No written constitution is more than a paper with words on it until those words are both interpreted and applied. Properly understood, then, a constitution is the sum of those procedures through which the power of the state is legitimately exercised and limited. Therefore, even a written constitution becomes a liberal constitution only when it is interpreted and applied in a liberal way.

If the statements in the argument are all true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them?
(A) A careful analysis of the written text of a constitution can show that the constitution is not a liberal one.
(B) It is impossible to determine that a written constitution is liberal merely through careful analysis of the written text. - CORRECT - They are not more than paper and pen until they are interpreted and applied.
(C) There are no advantages to having a written rather than an unwritten constitution.
(D) Constitutions that are not written are more likely to be liberal than are constitutions that are written.
(E) A constitution is a liberal constitution if it is possible to interpret it in a liberal way.
-
NOT ONLY INTERPRET BUT ALSO APPLIED.

Answer should be B rather than E. because of highlightened text.



E can be eliminated based on conditional reasoning.
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
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Re: The frequently expressed view that written constitutions are inherentl [#permalink]
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