Question

the fatal flaw in the university’s preferential program is its disregard of individual rights as guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment. . . . such rights are not absolute. but when a state’s distribution of benefits or placing of burdens hinges on ancestry or the color of a person’s skin, that individual is entitled to a demonstration that the challenged classification is necessary to promote an important state interest. the university has failed to carry this burden.
—justice lewis powell
opinion of the court
regents v. bakke
which statement best summarizes this passage?
○ fourteenth amendment rights can never be denied.
○ the university failed to justify the denial of fourteenth amendment rights.
○ it is acceptable to discriminate on the basis of ancestry.
○ the university has no interest in protecting fourteenth amendment rights.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The passage says "Such rights are not absolute", so this statement is wrong.
2. Analyze Option 2: The passage states the university's program disregards 14th Amendment rights and failed to justify the classification (thus the denial of rights), which matches.
3. Analyze Option 3: The passage implies discrimination based on ancestry/skin color needs justification, so this is wrong.
4. Analyze Option 4: The passage is about the university's program's flaw, not its interest in protecting rights, so this is wrong.

Answer:

B. The university failed to justify the denial of Fourteenth Amendment rights.