top of page

LSAT Preptest 149, Section 2, Question 14

Passage 3: Intellectual Property

Explanation

A. Both passages discuss how social norms relate to intellectual property laws within their respective fields—comedy for Passage A and culinary arts for Passage B.


B. Neither passage delves into the evolution of social norms, so this option does not distinguish Passage A from Passage B.


C. (Correct Response) Passage A specifically addresses the enforcement of social norms within the stand-up comedy community, mentioning direct consequences like badmouthing and ostracism that serve as a deterrent to joke theft. Passage B, while it does discuss social norms among chefs, does not focus on enforcement mechanisms to the same extent.


D. The limitations of social norms are implicitly discussed in both passages as part of the broader conversation on the role of social norms in regulating behavior without legal recourse.


E. The impact of social norms on creative output is a concept that could be inferred from both passages, not exclusively from Passage A.

Passage A distinguishes itself by detailing how social norms are enforced in the comedy community through informal sanctions, providing a system of deterrence and punishment that parallels legal enforcement, which is less emphasized in Passage B.

bottom of page