PrepTest 127

[lcid:3604] Prep Test 127 LSAT — Logical Reasoning — S1 Logical reasoning

Question prompt

Scientist: Isaac Newton's Principia Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Valid

Question Type

Argument Structure Questions

Stimulus Summary

Situation 1 - One of Newton’s works was initially understandable by only a few, but the ideas eventually spread.
Generalization - Scientific ideas can eventually be communicated broadly
Situation 2 - Current scientific research is expressible in terms only a few would understand
Conclusion - This research may (similar to Newton’s) eventually spread more widely

Answer Anticipation

Argument Structure questions can be made much easier if you can identify the method of reasoning used. Since those methods themselves have set general structures, it’s a lot easier to see how a statement in question fits into an argument if you have this structure in mind.
Here, the argument very much relies on an analogy/comparable situation. It starts out by bringing up an example (Newton’s Principia) in order to highlight a general principle - that the barriers preventing scientific ideas from being communicated to the public can be overcome.
It then brings up modern research that’s similar to Newton’s, and applies the principle to it, stating that it, too, might eventually be communicated to the public at large.
The statement in question is the one describing the similarity between the modern research and Newton’s work. As such, it’s a premise, a part of the comparison/analogy that leads to the conclusion.
One final note before we look at the answers - it can seem as if the statement in question is a part of the conclusion since it’s included in the sentence. However, it’s offset in that conclusion by commas, and it’s something that is stated to be accepted as fact about recent scientific research (without reason to back it up), so it’s a premise, and not actually a part of the conclusion. In Argument Structure questions that ask about a clause offset within the conclusion, be careful of answers that say it’s a part of the conclusion. It could be, but it rarely is.

Answer choices

  1. A
    It is raised as Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    While the esoteric nature of the current research could be seen as an impediment to it being shared out and understood by the public, that’s not how the argument treats it. Rather, it’s a similarity to earlier research that ended up following the pattern that the conclusion lays out, so it supports that conclusion. Additionally, the preceding statements don’t call it into question - in fact, the preceding statements aren’t about the current research at all.
  2. B
    It is a premise Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Close! However, while the argument does rely on the current research and Newton’s research being similar, it never suggests that they are only “superficially different” from the “claims” made by Newton. Rather, it assumes that they are similar in at least one key respect.
  3. C
    It is cited as Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    That conclusion (the intermediate conclusion) is backed up by an example of esoteric science becoming common knowledge - Newton’s example. Since the modern research hasn’t yet reached that point, it can’t be said to support that conclusion.
  4. D
    It is a claim Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    The statement in question draws a parallel between Newton’s work and recent research. The conclusion of the argument is that the recent research might follow the same trajectory as Newton’s. By drawing the parallel, the statement in question makes the discussion of Newton’s work relevant to making the prediction about the (similar) recent research seen in the conclusion. This answer is therefore correct.
  5. E
    It serves to cast Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    The argument relies on Newton’s work and the recent research being similar, and the statement in question is a part of the argument, so this answer is incorrect.

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