It can be inferred that the author calls the judicial system of the United States "accommodating" (line 10) primarily...

Mazen Thursday at 05:09PM

Shouldn't it be Line 7 (not line 10)?

The word in question is in the context of the second paragraph; not the first paragraph. In the first paragraph, in line 7, the word "accommodation" shows us in the context of SCOTUS "has not always resolved legal issues of concern to native Americans in a manner that has pleased the Indian Nation[...] But accommodation is part of the judicial system in the United States[...]" Okay the above context, C is the correct answer. But NOT in line 10, in the second where the word "accommodating" shows up in the context of defending the SCOTUS has exercised its power in a manner that was "beneficial" and "not wholly detrimental." In this context of the second paragraph, D is the correct answer; not C. Please do not work your backwards from knowing the correct answer. Explain to me how I am wrong in light of the fact that the question asks about the word "accommodating" in line 10 which is in the second paragraph; the question does not ask about the word "accommodation" in line 7 in the first paragraph. Thank you

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Nate-Stein Friday at 01:22PM

@Mazen, thank you for your comment,

The second paragraph says "despite" the accommodating, good things usually happen. So that means "accommodating" refers to bad things.

Hope that helps and happy studying,
Nate, LSATMax Instructor

Mazen Friday at 10:40PM

Thank you Nate.

I know what the word "despite" usually signals.

This is the clause following the one in which the word despite appears:
"it is worth noting that the power of
. the Supreme Court has been exercised in a manner
. that has usually been beneficial to Native
. Americans, at least on minor issues, and has not
(15) been wholly detrimental on the larger, more
. important issues."

Yes the word "despite" does to good writers mean that something contradictory to its clause follows, but look at the essence/the words in the clause that followed the "despite" clause.

I am so sorry you are having to defend LSAT writing linguistic reductionists to the meaning of one word.

Nate-Stein Saturday at 07:55AM

@Mazen, thank you for your comment,

A huge part of the LSAT is their weird use of "referents" and asking yourself whether a word refers back to a word we have already seen (ex: when they say "the canines" did they mean the "dogs" they were referring to earlier?) or whether it is a whole new concept (ex: when they said "roommates" affect your health here, were they referring to the study that said "having pets" helps your mental health? or is "pet" a distinct concept from "roommate"?)

Note, here, we are forced to deal with referents again literally in the next sentence: "However, the validity of the assertion can be illustrated by..." What assertion are we referring to here? The LSAT does this constantly. It is one of the most important skills to build up for LSAT success.

Luckily, accommodating and accommodation is about as clear of an answer as we will ever get. So this is definitely referring back to the prior concept and is not being used as a distinct concept.

Another part of the LSAT to always watch out for is when they twist the meaning of the answer choice in the last few words. They try to lull you to sleep and write a good answer choice that seems perfect until the last 2-3 words (or even until the very last word), hoping that you have already mentally selected it, and have let your guard down by the time you read the end. Here, incorrect answer choice (D) is absolutely guilty of that, everything is relatively fine until they say that the SCOTUS has recognized Native American VALUES, and the author never says that at all.

Hope that helps and happy studying,
Nate, LSATMax Instructor

Nate-Stein Saturday at 07:59AM

It is important to remember, too, that the tutors at LSATMax are not "defending" the LSAT. It is a tricky test and we didn't write it. Our job is to help you understand what the LSAT test writers are doing, so you can pick the LSAT apart and defeat it. We are trying to help you, the student.

Happy studying,
Nate, LSATMax Instructor

Mazen Saturday at 10:56PM

Nate, thank you for your valuable feedback. I sincerely appreciate it.
Also, I know you are on our side, the side of the students. I'll try to give them what they want. (I hope they do not contradict themselves on the principle of referential terminology supersedes context in some other passage).
Again my genuine thanks to you for taking the time to help me.