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Question 1
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
78% (03:33) correct
22%
(03:19) wrong
based on 303
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
5%
(low)
Question Stats:
79% (00:42) correct 21%
(00:53) wrong
based on 387
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
70% (01:51) correct 30%
(01:56) wrong
based on 382
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 4
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
65% (01:41) correct 35%
(02:03) wrong
based on 349
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 5
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
74% (00:48) correct 26%
(00:54) wrong
based on 335
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 6
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
71% (01:28) correct 29%
(01:23) wrong
based on 325
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Determining the most effective way to deter
deliberate crimes, such as fraud, as opposed to impulsive
crimes, such as crimes of passion, is a problem currently
being debated in the legal community. On one side of
(5) the debate are those scholars who believe that
deliberate crimes are a product of the influence of
societal norms and institutions on individuals. These
scholars suggest that changing people’s beliefs about
crime, increasing the access of the most economically
(10) alienated individuals to economic institutions, and
rehabilitating those convicted of this type of crime will
reduce the crime rate. On the other side are those legal
scholars who believe that the decision to commit a
deliberate crime is primarily the result of individual
(15) choice. They suggest that increasing the fines and
penalties associated with criminal activity, along with
efficacious law enforcement, is the best deterrence
method. However, some recent legal scholarship has
changed the nature of this debate by introducing an
(20) economic principle that shows that these two
positions, far from being antithetical, are surprisingly
complementary.
The economic principle that reconciles the two
positions is that of utility maximization, which holds
(25) that, given a choice of actions, rational individuals will
choose the action that maximizes their anticipated
overall satisfaction, or expected utility. The expected
utility of an action is ascertained by determining the
utilities of the possible outcomes of that action,
(30) weighing them according to the likelihood of each
outcome’s coming to pass, and then adding up those
weighted utilities. Using this economic framework, an
individual’s decision to commit a crime can be analyzed
as a rational economic choice.
(35) According to the utility maximization principle a
person who responds rationally to economic incentives
or disincentives will commit a crime if the expected
utility from doing so, given the chance of getting caught,
exceeds the expected utility from activity that is
(40) lawful. Within this framework the two crime-deterrence
methods have the same overall effect. For instance, the
recommendations on one side of the crime deterrence
debate to increase penalties for crimes and strengthen
law enforcement result in an increased likelihood of
(45) detection and punishment and impose an increased
cost to the individual if detected and punished. This
lowers the expected utility from criminal activity,
thereby making a person less likely to choose to
commit a deliberate crime. The recommendations on
(50) the other side of the debate, such as increasing the
economic opportunities of individuals most alienated
from economic institutions, also affect the utility
equation. All else being equal, enacting these types
of policies will effectively increase the expected
(55) utility from lawful activity. This economic analysis
demonstrates that the two positions are not
fundamentally in conflict, and that the optimal
approach to crime deterrence would include elements
of both deterrence strategies.
deliberate crimes, such as fraud, as opposed to impulsive
crimes, such as crimes of passion, is a problem currently
being debated in the legal community. On one side of
(5) the debate are those scholars who believe that
deliberate crimes are a product of the influence of
societal norms and institutions on individuals. These
scholars suggest that changing people’s beliefs about
crime, increasing the access of the most economically
(10) alienated individuals to economic institutions, and
rehabilitating those convicted of this type of crime will
reduce the crime rate. On the other side are those legal
scholars who believe that the decision to commit a
deliberate crime is primarily the result of individual
(15) choice. They suggest that increasing the fines and
penalties associated with criminal activity, along with
efficacious law enforcement, is the best deterrence
method. However, some recent legal scholarship has
changed the nature of this debate by introducing an
(20) economic principle that shows that these two
positions, far from being antithetical, are surprisingly
complementary.
The economic principle that reconciles the two
positions is that of utility maximization, which holds
(25) that, given a choice of actions, rational individuals will
choose the action that maximizes their anticipated
overall satisfaction, or expected utility. The expected
utility of an action is ascertained by determining the
utilities of the possible outcomes of that action,
(30) weighing them according to the likelihood of each
outcome’s coming to pass, and then adding up those
weighted utilities. Using this economic framework, an
individual’s decision to commit a crime can be analyzed
as a rational economic choice.
(35) According to the utility maximization principle a
person who responds rationally to economic incentives
or disincentives will commit a crime if the expected
utility from doing so, given the chance of getting caught,
exceeds the expected utility from activity that is
(40) lawful. Within this framework the two crime-deterrence
methods have the same overall effect. For instance, the
recommendations on one side of the crime deterrence
debate to increase penalties for crimes and strengthen
law enforcement result in an increased likelihood of
(45) detection and punishment and impose an increased
cost to the individual if detected and punished. This
lowers the expected utility from criminal activity,
thereby making a person less likely to choose to
commit a deliberate crime. The recommendations on
(50) the other side of the debate, such as increasing the
economic opportunities of individuals most alienated
from economic institutions, also affect the utility
equation. All else being equal, enacting these types
of policies will effectively increase the expected
(55) utility from lawful activity. This economic analysis
demonstrates that the two positions are not
fundamentally in conflict, and that the optimal
approach to crime deterrence would include elements
of both deterrence strategies.
1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?
(A) The principle of utility maximization providesan economic framework that allows legal scholars to analyze an individual’s decision tocommit a crime as a rational economic choicethat maximizes that individual’s expected utility.
(B) Legal scholars have found that deliberate criminal acts are motivated by neither external influences nor individual choices alone but that instead both of these factors are important in the decision to commit a crime.
(C) The utility maximization principle can be used to quantify the effects both of methods of deterrence that revolve around individual factors and of those that emphasize the impact of societal norms on the decision to commit a deliberate crime.
(D) Introduction of the utility maximization principle into the current crime deterrence debate indicates that both sides in the debate offer useful recommendations that can work together in deterring deliberate crime.
(E) The utility maximization principle demonstrates that deliberate criminal acts are the result of the rational economic choices of individuals and are not influenced by societal norms or the policies and practices of societal institutions.
(A) The principle of utility maximization providesan economic framework that allows legal scholars to analyze an individual’s decision tocommit a crime as a rational economic choicethat maximizes that individual’s expected utility.
(B) Legal scholars have found that deliberate criminal acts are motivated by neither external influences nor individual choices alone but that instead both of these factors are important in the decision to commit a crime.
(C) The utility maximization principle can be used to quantify the effects both of methods of deterrence that revolve around individual factors and of those that emphasize the impact of societal norms on the decision to commit a deliberate crime.
(D) Introduction of the utility maximization principle into the current crime deterrence debate indicates that both sides in the debate offer useful recommendations that can work together in deterring deliberate crime.
(E) The utility maximization principle demonstrates that deliberate criminal acts are the result of the rational economic choices of individuals and are not influenced by societal norms or the policies and practices of societal institutions.
2. The author mentions “crimes of passion” primarily in order to
(A) give an example of a kind of deliberate crime
(B) provide a contrast that helps to define a deliberate crime
(C) demonstrate that not all crimes can be deterred
(D) help illustrate one side of the current debate in the legal community
(E) mention a crime that is a product of the influence of societal norms
(A) give an example of a kind of deliberate crime
(B) provide a contrast that helps to define a deliberate crime
(C) demonstrate that not all crimes can be deterred
(D) help illustrate one side of the current debate in the legal community
(E) mention a crime that is a product of the influence of societal norms
3. The explanation of the utility maximization principle in the passage suggests that which one of the following would be least appropriately described as a rational response to economic incentives and disincentives?
(A) In order to reduce his taxes, a waiter conceals a large part of his tip income from the government because he believes that it is very unlikely that this will be detected and he will be penalized.
(B) A motorist avoids speeding on a certain stretch of road because she knows that it is heavily patrolled and that a speeding ticket will lead to loss of her driver’s license.
(C) An industrialist continues to illegally discharge an untreated pollutant into a river because the cost of treatment far exceeds the fine for illegally discharging the pollutant.
(D) A government official in an impoverished country risks prosecution for soliciting bribes because rampant inflation has rendered her government salary inadequate to support her and her family.
(E) A worker physically assaults his former supervisor in a crowded workplace because he has been dismissed from his job and he believes that the dismissal was unwarranted and unfair.
(A) In order to reduce his taxes, a waiter conceals a large part of his tip income from the government because he believes that it is very unlikely that this will be detected and he will be penalized.
(B) A motorist avoids speeding on a certain stretch of road because she knows that it is heavily patrolled and that a speeding ticket will lead to loss of her driver’s license.
(C) An industrialist continues to illegally discharge an untreated pollutant into a river because the cost of treatment far exceeds the fine for illegally discharging the pollutant.
(D) A government official in an impoverished country risks prosecution for soliciting bribes because rampant inflation has rendered her government salary inadequate to support her and her family.
(E) A worker physically assaults his former supervisor in a crowded workplace because he has been dismissed from his job and he believes that the dismissal was unwarranted and unfair.
4. Based on the passage, which one of the following scenarios is most similar to some legal scholars’ use of the utility maximization principle regarding the crime deterrence debate?
(A) an astronomer’s use of a paradox employed by certain ancient cosmologists as a metaphor to help describe a phenomenon recently observed with the aid of new technologies
(B) a drawing instructor’s use of a law of optics from physics to demonstrate that two lines that appear to diverge actually run parallel to each other
(C) a botanist’s use of a quotation from a legendary Olympic athlete to make a point about the competitive nature of plants in a forest
(D) a judge’s use of evidence from anthropology to support a decision in a controversial legal case
(E) a mediator’s use of a short quotation from a well-known novel in an attempt to set a tone of collegiality and good conduct at the start of a bargaining session
(A) an astronomer’s use of a paradox employed by certain ancient cosmologists as a metaphor to help describe a phenomenon recently observed with the aid of new technologies
(B) a drawing instructor’s use of a law of optics from physics to demonstrate that two lines that appear to diverge actually run parallel to each other
(C) a botanist’s use of a quotation from a legendary Olympic athlete to make a point about the competitive nature of plants in a forest
(D) a judge’s use of evidence from anthropology to support a decision in a controversial legal case
(E) a mediator’s use of a short quotation from a well-known novel in an attempt to set a tone of collegiality and good conduct at the start of a bargaining session
5. Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?
(A) Two sides of a debate are described and a general principle is used to resolve the conflict between them.
(B) Two sides of a debate are described and an economic principle is applied to decide between them.
(C) Two beliefs are described and a principle is introduced to discredit them.
(D) A general principle is described and instantiated by two different ways of solving a problem.
(E) A general principle is described and used to highlight the differences between two sides in a debate.
(A) Two sides of a debate are described and a general principle is used to resolve the conflict between them.
(B) Two sides of a debate are described and an economic principle is applied to decide between them.
(C) Two beliefs are described and a principle is introduced to discredit them.
(D) A general principle is described and instantiated by two different ways of solving a problem.
(E) A general principle is described and used to highlight the differences between two sides in a debate.
6. The passage suggests that the author would be likely to agree with each of the following statements EXCEPT:
(A) The rate at which criminals return to criminal activity is likely to fall if laws requiring stronger punishments for repeat offenders are adopted.
(B) The rate at which criminals return to criminal activity is likely to increase if efforts to rehabilitate them are ended.
(C) The rate of deliberate crimes is likely to decrease if the expected utility of lawful activities decreases.
(D) The rate of deliberate crimes is likely to increase if the access of individuals to economic institutions decreases.
(E) The rate of deliberate crimes will tend to vary inversely with the level of law enforcement.
(A) The rate at which criminals return to criminal activity is likely to fall if laws requiring stronger punishments for repeat offenders are adopted.
(B) The rate at which criminals return to criminal activity is likely to increase if efforts to rehabilitate them are ended.
(C) The rate of deliberate crimes is likely to decrease if the expected utility of lawful activities decreases.
(D) The rate of deliberate crimes is likely to increase if the access of individuals to economic institutions decreases.
(E) The rate of deliberate crimes will tend to vary inversely with the level of law enforcement.
05 Jul 2021, 21:27
Kudos
Bookmarks
2. The author mentions “crimes of passion” primarily in order to
(A) give an example of a kind of deliberate crime - Not an example rather a type of crime
(B) provide a contrast that helps to define a deliberate crime
(C) demonstrate that not all crimes can be deterred - Whether crime of passion can be deterred is not discussed in the passage
(D) help illustrate one side of the current debate in the legal community - Both side of debate are related to deliberate crime.
(E) mention a crime that is a product of the influence of societal norms - Not mentioned
3. The explanation of the utility maximization principle in the passage suggests that which one of the following would be least appropriately described as a rational response to economic incentives and disincentives?
(A) In order to reduce his taxes, a waiter conceals a large part of his tip income from the government because he believes that it is very unlikely that this will be detected and he will be penalized. - Deliberate crime - Economic utility of crime more than the penalty
(B) A motorist avoids speeding on a certain stretch of road because she knows that it is heavily patrolled and that a speeding ticket will lead to loss of her driver’s license. - Deliberate effort - Economic utility of speeding less than the loss of driver's license
(C) An industrialist continues to illegally discharge an untreated pollutant into a river because the cost of treatment far exceeds the fine for illegally discharging the pollutant. - Deliberate crime - Economic utility of crime more than the penalty
(D) A government official in an impoverished country risks prosecution for soliciting bribes because rampant inflation has rendered her government salary inadequate to support her and her family.- Deliberate crime - Economic utility of crime more than the penalty
(E) A worker physically assaults his former supervisor in a crowded workplace because he has been dismissed from his job and he believes that the dismissal was unwarranted and unfair. - No economic utility to the worker as he was already dismissed. Though this was a deliberate crime committed by the worker, it was not due to the economic utility but due to rage.
4. Based on the passage, which one of the following scenarios is most similar to some legal scholars’ use of the utility maximization principle regarding the crime deterrence debate?
(A) an astronomer’s use of a paradox employed by certain ancient cosmologists as a metaphor to help describe a phenomenon recently observed with the aid of new technologies
(B) a drawing instructor’s use of a law of optics from physics to demonstrate that two lines that appear to diverge actually run parallel to each other
(C) a botanist’s use of a quotation from a legendary Olympic athlete to make a point about the competitive nature of plants in a forest
(D) a judge’s use of evidence from anthropology to support a decision in a controversial legal case
(E) a mediator’s use of a short quotation from a well-known novel in an attempt to set a tone of collegiality and good conduct at the start of a bargaining session
Some legal scholars who support the use of utility maximization principle suggest that the two sides of the debate are not so different and are based on the principle of economic utility maximization i.e eventhough they appear to diverge into different direction, they ultimately leads to the same principle.
"The economic principle that reconciles the two positions is that of utility maximization, which holds (25) that, given a choice of actions, rational individuals will choose the action that maximizes their anticipated overall satisfaction, or expected utility."
Hope this helps.
(A) give an example of a kind of deliberate crime - Not an example rather a type of crime
(B) provide a contrast that helps to define a deliberate crime
(C) demonstrate that not all crimes can be deterred - Whether crime of passion can be deterred is not discussed in the passage
(D) help illustrate one side of the current debate in the legal community - Both side of debate are related to deliberate crime.
(E) mention a crime that is a product of the influence of societal norms - Not mentioned
3. The explanation of the utility maximization principle in the passage suggests that which one of the following would be least appropriately described as a rational response to economic incentives and disincentives?
(A) In order to reduce his taxes, a waiter conceals a large part of his tip income from the government because he believes that it is very unlikely that this will be detected and he will be penalized. - Deliberate crime - Economic utility of crime more than the penalty
(B) A motorist avoids speeding on a certain stretch of road because she knows that it is heavily patrolled and that a speeding ticket will lead to loss of her driver’s license. - Deliberate effort - Economic utility of speeding less than the loss of driver's license
(C) An industrialist continues to illegally discharge an untreated pollutant into a river because the cost of treatment far exceeds the fine for illegally discharging the pollutant. - Deliberate crime - Economic utility of crime more than the penalty
(D) A government official in an impoverished country risks prosecution for soliciting bribes because rampant inflation has rendered her government salary inadequate to support her and her family.- Deliberate crime - Economic utility of crime more than the penalty
(E) A worker physically assaults his former supervisor in a crowded workplace because he has been dismissed from his job and he believes that the dismissal was unwarranted and unfair. - No economic utility to the worker as he was already dismissed. Though this was a deliberate crime committed by the worker, it was not due to the economic utility but due to rage.
4. Based on the passage, which one of the following scenarios is most similar to some legal scholars’ use of the utility maximization principle regarding the crime deterrence debate?
(A) an astronomer’s use of a paradox employed by certain ancient cosmologists as a metaphor to help describe a phenomenon recently observed with the aid of new technologies
(B) a drawing instructor’s use of a law of optics from physics to demonstrate that two lines that appear to diverge actually run parallel to each other
(C) a botanist’s use of a quotation from a legendary Olympic athlete to make a point about the competitive nature of plants in a forest
(D) a judge’s use of evidence from anthropology to support a decision in a controversial legal case
(E) a mediator’s use of a short quotation from a well-known novel in an attempt to set a tone of collegiality and good conduct at the start of a bargaining session
Some legal scholars who support the use of utility maximization principle suggest that the two sides of the debate are not so different and are based on the principle of economic utility maximization i.e eventhough they appear to diverge into different direction, they ultimately leads to the same principle.
"The economic principle that reconciles the two positions is that of utility maximization, which holds (25) that, given a choice of actions, rational individuals will choose the action that maximizes their anticipated overall satisfaction, or expected utility."
Hope this helps.
06 Jul 2021, 01:30
Kudos
Bookmarks
anshum511
For main point questions, ask yourself: why did they tell me that? LSAT passages always have a point. Here, the point is that the two plans to deal with crime are really just opposite sides of the same coin.
What A said is true, according to the passage, but it isn’t the main point. This answer ignores the fact that utility maximization theory will let us settle the debate.
