Which one of the following best defines the word "political" as it is used in the second paragraph of the passage?
Boramon January 14, 2019
Answer choice (d)
Can you please explain why (d) is the correct answer? I don't understand how the author's discussion of the political terms in the second paragraph is related to the maintenance of the institution's effectiveness. Thank you!
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Happy to help! We're looking for the meaning of the word 'political' within the context of the second paragraph. In the second paragraph, the author is explaining why history hasn't been a part of the academic study of jurisprudence. In lines 30 through 32, the author states, "In political terms, believing in the logic of law is a necessary part of believing in its fairness."
In other words, history has been omitted from the study jurisprudence and common law because if it were included, then the logic and fairness of the law would be more likely to be called into question by people. If the logic and fairness of the law were to be called into question, then the legal institution would become less trusted, and thereby less effective.
This is exactly what answer choice D picks up on, as it says, "having to do with the maintenance of an institution's effectiveness." The institution D is referring to is the legal institution
Answer A is incorrect because the term is not being used to describe professional advancement tactics that people use.
Answer B is incorrect because there is no mention about government achieving goals through covert ways. This is irrelevant.
Answer C is the most tempting wrong answer choice, but it's incorrect because it is descriptively inaccurate. The word 'political' in the second paragraph does not have to do with the maintenance of ethical standards between professions and the citizenry. This is not the subject matter of the second paragraph.
Answer E is incorrect because there is no mention of radical theorists in the second paragraph. This answer can easily be eliminated.
Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any more questions!