Reading Comprehension

PT153 · S4 · P3 · Q21 Judicial Reasoning

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Passage A

Topic

Judicial candor—whether judges need to genuinely believe and honestly state the reasons for their decisions.

Framework

Present Debate

Main Point

Both passages examine whether judges should be required to be sincere and honest (show candor) in the reasons they give for their decisions. Passage A discusses two main approaches to defending judicial candor (prudential and moral), while Passage B argues that there is a strong presumption in favor of judicial candor due to its role in constraining judicial power. Most Valuable Sentences:

Passage A: (end of P3)

Passage B: (end of P3)

P1 (Passage A): Skepticism About Judicial Sincerity

Some legal scholars reject the idea that judges should truly believe what they write in their decisions, arguing that honesty can conflict with the practical demands and responsibilities judges face.

P2 (Passage A): Prudential Defense of Candor

One way to defend sincerity is by showing that it leads to good practical outcomes—like increased transparency or legitimacy—but this is a "means-to-an-end" type of justification.

P3 (Passage A): Moral Defense of Candor

The author argues that relying only on practical benefits ignores the deeper moral reasons for honesty—truth-telling is a core moral duty, not only valuable when it leads to good results.

21.

Which one of the following is most analogous to the claim regarding judicial candor made in the second sentence of the second paragraph of passage B?

  1. Juries must be selected from

    Bad Match: essential pre-req

    This answer is saying that "representative juries are the key to unbiased verdicts". This doesn't have anything that matches with "a representative sample of jurors is the essential prerequisite of all other [things related to unbiased verdicts]." It isn't saying that one thing is the bedrock on which all other things are built. This is just saying that "you must have X. Otherwise, you won't have Y".

    12% picked this

  2. Artists often complain that commercial

    Bad Match: weak language

    This doesn't have anything that matches with "X is an essential prerequisite of all other things related to Y". The language of this answer is soft and squishy: "Many X's complain about A. But some of the best stuff made by X's happens with A." The original wasn't anything like, "Many judges complain about being candid, but some of the best judicial decisions happen with candor".

    6% picked this

  3. Correct

    The data presented in support

    Why this is right

    This has strong language we can match up with "X is the essential prerequisite of all other things related to Y". "Accuracy is the essential prerequisite of all other things related to whether certain data supports a scientific theory". If the data isn't accurate, then it doesn't matter whether it's relevant or sufficient. Similarly, if judges aren't forced to mean what they say (if their judicial opinions are inaccurate reflections of their real motives), then it doesn't matter what laws or constitutions or legal precedents we set trying to constrain judges.

    Skill tested: Analogy · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    50% picked this

  4. In certain competitive activities, competitors

    Opposite

    This answer seems to be tolerating deception, saying "it's just part of the sport!" That doesn't match up well with a sentence that's saying, "It's essential that judges are not deceptive".

    8% picked this

  5. In many cases, a doctor

    Bad Match: essential pre-req

    This answer is saying that "even is X might seem like an exotic concern, a person is obligated to still talk about X". This doesn't have anything that matches with "X is the essential prerequisite of all other things related to Y". This answer is more about "even if the risk is low, you still need to do it".

    24% picked this

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