Q4

[gplaya123]

I really need help with this question!
I thought the author, even though he didn't really say something that revealed his attitude, didn't like interception of email because it can cause inconvenience to the people, as it's said in the last paragraph.

So I was between A and E and chose E, since A was too strong.

But answer to this question is D: only reference line that supports D that I can find is line 31.

Please help me why it's D!

Also I have an additional question: where does this question refer to? the term "interception of email" was specifically used in the last paragraph so I was looking for the answer there. However, when I saw C, maybe perhaps this question was referring to the automotive company example. So, even if the "key term" is specifically found in a place, I should synthesize all the given info to answer the question?

[tommywallach]

Hey gplaya123,

This is indeed a toughie! Damn LSAT; how dare they put this in the first passage! : )

So, these tone questions can be tricky. There are two ways you can think about this. The first, is by examining the scale you may (or may not!) have made when you read this passage. This is a really weird passage, in that the author does not come down on either side of the debate (i.e. intercepting emails is okay or not okay). Instead, the author just talks about the issues. If you thought the author did come down, I encourage to take another look; you'll probably discover that your own judgments regarding such a practice may have colored your interpretation, as the author himself doesn't say anything either way.

Another way you could think of it is that this question is secretly a main idea question, because the whole passage is about interception of electronic mail. So don't pick anything that wouldn't apply to the ENTIRE passage.

(A) You were right to cross this out as way to extreme. Nowhere in the passage does the author say anything like "This practice is immoral and needs to be stopped."

(B) While you might argue that silence implies consent, the author simply describes these employers. Nowhere is any support given for them.

(C) The passage is not primarily about the employees who lose their jobs. They're only a small part. Also, the author doesn't express any particular sympathy for them.

(D) How bland and boring. Correct answers usually are. : )

(E) As mentioned above, cynicism is a nearly impossible-stand to take in an essay. Disapproval is possible, but cynicism is way too weird/complicated. Not to mention the fact that the author describes the motivation (basically, the employer was offended upon reading the emails) without any hint of cynicism.

Let me know if that all makes sense!

-t

[Mab6q]

For what it's worth, the author does show some sympathy for the workers in like 55 "unfortunately"... showing that they should have some kind of protection. However, I agree D is the best answer