MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Question 53: Answer and Explanation

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Test Information

Question: 53

1. Which of the following statements best expresses the main thesis of the passage?

  • A. Three positions have emerged in the debate over the Voting Rights Act, which may be labeled progressive, centrist, and conservative.
  • B. While imperfect, the centrist approach is the most reasonable, given that it avoids the ideological extremes embodied in the conservative and progressive positions and that it advocates a case-by-case evaluation of the impact of the Voting Rights Act.
  • C. The centrist position on the Voting Rights Act, while seemingly a pragmatic middle road between two extremes, fails to address the theoretical issues that underlie questions of minority representation.
  • D. While the conservative and progressive positions on the Voting Rights Act both seek significant change, the centrist position prefers a more incrementalist approach.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C This is a Main Idea/Primary Purpose question.

A: No. This choice is too narrow to be the correct answer to a Main Idea question. While the statement is supported by the passage, it leaves out the heart of the author's argument, which is his evaluation of the validity (or lack thereof) of the centrist position.

B: No. This choice misrepresents the author's opinion. While the author does state that "the centrists attempt to fashion a reasonable middle position" (paragraph 3), and that their position "appears immediately appealing" (paragraph 2), the author argues in paragraphs 6-8 that this position is fundamentally flawed in its assumption that discussion and implementation of the Voting Rights Act can avoid theoretical discussion. Always make sure to take the entire passage into account for a general question and to clearly define the author's opinion.

C: Yes. After discussing the three positions in paragraphs 1-4, the author argues that the centrists are fundamentally wrong in their assertion that the act can be understood or implemented without confronting abstract issues: for example, what constitutes fair representation. The author's tone is clear in phrases such as "The difficulty with such an argument" and "The centrist position as a whole sidesteps."

D: No. As in choice A, this answer is supported by the passage (paragraphs 1 and 2), but is too narrow to be the main thesis of the passage. For example, it leaves out the author's negative evaluation of the centrist position.

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