Logical reasoning PrepTest 146 · Section 1 · Question 20

Incorrect. Neither Lyle nor Carl discusses the pedagogical value of the original plays, so this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. Carl believes this is true—in fact, he believes he lessens its value to 0. And while it can be tempting to say that Lyle disagrees with this answer, he may agree that modernizing language does lessen the play's usefulness in teaching history, it's worth it to make it more accessible, and thus it's a valuable tool. Since we can't commit Lyle to disagreeing with this statement, we can't say it's a point at issue between them, but it's definitely a trap answer!

Incorrect. Both the "highest form of aesthetic enjoyment" and "seeing" the plays is out of scope of both arguments.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed/Flawed

Question Type:
Point at Issue

Stimulus Summary:
L: Con of modernizing language Ð lessens aesthetic quality. Pro Ð makes it more accessible. Therefore, modernizing play language is valuable to teach history.

C: Modernizing prevents students from fully understanding the original message, preventing deep knowledge of the past, so it's useless for teaching history.

Answer Anticipation:
Lyle and Carl both touch on the same subject—modernizing the language of old plays in order to teach history to students. Lyle is for it because it increases accessibility; Carl is against it because it changes the meaning and thus prevents deep knowledge of the past.

Since they disagree on the value of a practice, that's likely the correct answer. They bring up different reasons (pros/cons) for their conclusions, so those will likely show up in incorrect answers.

Answer Explanation:
Carl believes that modernizing plays is of "no use" in teaching history, whereas Lyle believes that it "remains valuable" for the teaching of history, so this answer highlights their opposing conclusions.

Key Takeaway:
The LSAT writers are very, very good at writing trap answers. Here, it'd be easy to settle on (B) as correct early on. Be sure to read and fully consider each answer choice in LR questions so you don't fall for an early trap answer!

Incorrect. Lyle states this, but aesthetic quality is out of the scope of Carl's argument.