While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Robert Chen represents clients in court proceedings.Chen primarily handles cases...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Robert Chen represents clients in court proceedings.
- Chen primarily handles cases where clients have been wrongly accused or where evidence was improperly obtained.
- Most criminal defense lawyers focus on negotiating plea bargains to reduce charges.
- An attorney who specializes in taking cases to trial rather than settling is called a trial lawyer.
The student wants to describe Chen's area of legal practice.
Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Most criminal defense lawyers negotiate plea bargains.
Chen is a trial lawyer.
Some attorneys represent clients in court.
There are lawyers who handle wrongly accused clients.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Robert Chen represents clients in court proceedings.' |
|
| 'Chen primarily handles cases where clients have been wrongly accused or where evidence was improperly obtained.' |
|
| 'Most criminal defense lawyers focus on negotiating plea bargains to reduce charges.' |
|
| 'An attorney who specializes in taking cases to trial rather than settling is called a trial lawyer.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes provide information about Robert Chen's courtroom practice and define what constitutes a trial lawyer.
Argument Flow: The notes establish Chen's courtroom role, specify his case types, contrast this with typical lawyer behavior (plea bargaining), and define the term trial lawyer as someone who takes cases to trial rather than settling.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Based on our notes, Chen represents clients in court proceedings, which contrasts with most criminal defense lawyers who focus on plea bargains
- The notes specifically define a trial lawyer as someone who takes cases to trial rather than settling
- Since Chen represents clients in court proceedings rather than just negotiating settlements, this fits the definition of a trial lawyer perfectly
Most criminal defense lawyers negotiate plea bargains.
- Describes what most criminal defense lawyers do, not Chen specifically
- Doesn't accomplish the goal of describing Chen's area of practice
Chen is a trial lawyer.
- Directly identifies Chen as a trial lawyer
- Uses the definition from the notes: trial lawyers take cases to trial rather than settling
- Chen represents clients in court proceedings, which matches this definition
- Perfectly accomplishes the goal of describing Chen's area of legal practice
Some attorneys represent clients in court.
- Too generic and vague - doesn't specify Chen's particular practice area
- Could apply to any attorney
There are lawyers who handle wrongly accused clients.
- Only mentions one aspect of Chen's work
- Doesn't capture his broader practice area or use the key definition provided