Question

Which statement best describes Darrow’s viewpoint of the case, as expressed in this excerpt? (1) He argued that the boys were so young that they didn't fully understand their actions; he thought that the boys should be given a second chance. (2) Darrow provided various reasons to give the boys a lighter sentence; he felt that no crime deserved such a terrible punishment. (3) He was a strong advocate for mental health treatments; he believed that Leopold and Loeb would not hurt anyone if they got psychiatric help. (4) Darrow thought that rich people should be treated differently than poor people; he believed people weren’t paying attention to the boys’ financial situation.

Answer 1

The answer is number 2: Darrow provided various reasons to give the boys a lighter sentence; he felt that no crime deserved such a terrible punishment.

Answer 2

The statement that best describes Darrow's viewpoint of the case is 2. In that statement, Darrow presents "various reasons" to provide a lighter sentence to the boys and he expressed that, in his view, "no crime deserved such a terrible punishment". The other statements convey other ideas related to the case but do not describe Darrow's viewpoint of the case.