Reference Resolution
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LSAT Reading › Reference Resolution
The phrase 'This interpretation' (line 13) most nearly refers to which of the following?
The idea that the scenes served as religious catechesis for rural parishes
The suggestion that the series documents advances in weaving techniques
The view that the panels primarily allegorize seasonal agrarian labor
The claim that the tapestries were woven solely for decorative purposes
The reading that the panels function as dynastic propaganda asserting jurisdiction
Explanation
The phrase follows a description of scholars who see the panels as advertising patrons' power, i.e., a propagandistic reading. The other options either state the older agrarian-allegory consensus or unrelated alternative purposes. The sentence explicitly evaluates the propaganda reading's strengths and challenges.
The phrase 'that assumption' (line 12) refers to which of the following?
The suggestion that custodial sentences are always harsher than alternatives
The view that restorative justice denies the gravity of wrongdoing
The idea that moral condemnation requires a public acknowledgment
The belief that punishment must involve suffering proportionate to the wrong
The claim that victims' needs should control the design of sanctions
Explanation
Immediately prior, the passage frames the dispute as whether punishment is essentially about suffering, and reformers reject that assumption. Thus it refers to the retributive assumption that punishment must involve proportionate suffering. The other options do not capture the specific assumption being rejected in that sentence.
As used in the passage, the phrase "such documentation" (line 40) most directly refers to which of the following?
Preserving original murals in place by preventing them from being painted over
Creating high-resolution images supplemented by oral histories, maps, and contextual notes about the works
Publishing theoretical essays critiquing the "archive effect" in museum practice
Assigning catalog numbers and access rules to works acquired by the institution
Removing sections of walls so that street art can be displayed inside the museum
Explanation
The phrase points back to the curators' proposed archival practice of imaging street art and pairing it with rich contextual materials. The other choices describe physical removal, internal cataloging, in situ preservation, or theoretical writing, none of which matches the described documentation.
Passage:
Some urban planners advocate “complete streets” policies, which aim to redesign roads so that they accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, public transit, and automobiles rather than prioritizing vehicle throughput alone. Proponents argue that such redesigns can improve safety, reduce emissions, and encourage healthier travel behavior. They also contend that street design shapes land use by influencing which kinds of businesses and housing are viable along a corridor.
Skeptics do not necessarily dispute these aims but question whether redesigns deliver them uniformly. In certain neighborhoods, adding bike lanes and wider sidewalks may coincide with rising property values and displacement pressures. The resulting demographic changes can complicate claims that the policy benefits existing residents, especially when improvements are implemented without parallel investments in affordable housing.
Defenders of complete streets respond that displacement is not an inherent consequence of redesign but a product of broader housing-market dynamics. They propose anti-displacement measures such as rent stabilization, community land trusts, or targeted tax relief for long-term residents. Still, these interventions require coordination across agencies and may be politically contentious.
Thus, the strongest case for complete streets treats them not as a standalone solution but as part of an integrated package. Where transportation improvements are paired with protections for vulnerable residents, the policy can advance both mobility and equity; where they are not, it may unintentionally accelerate neighborhood change.
Question:
The phrase "these interventions" most nearly refers to
broader housing-market dynamics that influence whether displacement occurs
anti-displacement measures such as rent stabilization, community land trusts, or targeted tax relief
the redesign of roads to accommodate multiple travel modes rather than vehicle throughput alone
rising property values and displacement pressures associated with certain neighborhood improvements
policy tools intended to address political contention
Explanation
LSAT reference resolution builds on understanding how phrases echo prior ideas, so trace them by checking for grammatical and thematic consistency. 'These interventions' is in the third paragraph, following the proposal of anti-displacement measures like rent stabilization, land trusts, or tax relief. It directly points to these specific policy tools. Choice B captures this by describing those anti-displacement actions. D could be tempting as it mentions broader dynamics, but that's the cause, not the 'interventions' themselves. Remember to resolve references through contextual meaning, not just nearby terms.
The phrase "this interpretation" (line 28) refers to which of the following?
The methodological principle of weighing mundane documents over rhetorical texts
The reading of charters as isolated instances of royal generosity
The contention that royal panegyrics are unreliable as historical sources
The traditional claim that royal consolidation enabled long-distance trade
The revisionist view that preexisting merchant networks pressured rulers to formalize practices
Explanation
The passage uses "this interpretation" to name the revisionist account that commerce predated and influenced political formalization. The other options describe the traditional thesis, a critique of sources, an opposing reading of charters, or a general method, not the specific interpretation being reframed.
The phrase "these methods" (line 31) most nearly refers to which of the following?
Genomic monitoring of reefs to detect bleaching events in real time
Culling invasive species that prey on juvenile corals
Reducing local stressors such as runoff and overfishing
Translocating resilient corals and shading reefs during heat waves
Assisted-evolution techniques like selective breeding and thermal preconditioning of corals
Explanation
Immediately prior to the phrase, the passage details assisted-evolution practices (selective breeding and acclimation) and then labels "these methods" as tools. The other choices describe different management strategies or monitoring, not the specific suite just summarized.
The phrase 'This approach' (line 14) most directly refers to which of the following?
The foreignization strategy that retains strangeness to foreground mediation
The market-driven preference for fluent, domesticated translations
The practice of tailoring translation choices to the text's intended function
The ethical critique that publishers erase cultural differences
The general belief that translation should maximize readerly ease
Explanation
Immediately after describing Venuti's aims, 'This approach' refers to the foreignization strategy that foregrounds mediation and difficulty. The other choices describe Skopos theory, market preferences, a fluency ideal, or a critique, not the approach named.
The phrase "this plan" (line 33) refers to which of the following?
The incremental, community-led park renovation strategy centered on stewardship and phased upgrades
The case studies from other cities that the mayor cites in support
The long‑term maintenance obligations mandated by state law
The bond-funded, comprehensive overhaul executed all at once
The critics' assertion that cosmetic projects merely postpone structural repairs
Explanation
Immediately before the phrase, the passage contrasts the administration's phased, stewardship-based approach with the single, bond-funded overhaul; "this plan" refers to the former. The other choices describe competing proposals, evidence, or legal constraints, not the plan being championed.
The phrase 'Such critics' (line 10) refers to which of the following groups?
Budget hawks and personal-responsibility commentators concerned about lax behavior
City council members who increased tax allocations to library systems
Researchers who designed reminder and grace-period pilots
Patrons who had their cards blocked because of unpaid balances
Librarians and administrators who favor eliminating overdue fines
Explanation
The phrase refers to opponents who worry that removing fines invites lax behavior, namely budget hawks and personal-responsibility commentators. The other choices describe supporters, affected patrons, funders, or researchers, none of whom are the 'critics' cited. The passage explicitly contrasts 'such critics' with library leaders who favor fine elimination.
The phrase 'This approach' (line 10) refers to which of the following policy strategies?
Sequencing co-management councils, rotating trial closures, and delayed permanent designations
Imposing immediate, permanent no-take zones across the entire coastline
Increasing fines and patrols without altering community participation
Providing subsidies to fishers in exchange for voluntary weekend closures
Relying on distant-water fleets to police nearshore poaching
Explanation
The passage defines 'This approach' as the sequence of co-management, rotating closures, and later permanent zones. The other choices describe enforcement-only tactics, subsidies, or unrelated strategies. The sentence immediately before and after the phrase summarize the components and results of the approach.