PrepTest 143

[lcid:3669] Prep Test 143 LSAT — Reading Comp — S2 Reading comp

Passage

Questions 1-7  .        Having spent several decades trying to eliminate  . the unself-conscious "colonial gaze" characteristic of  . so Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic: Social Science

Paragraph 1
  • Paragraph note
    • A phenomenon is introduced that has divided anthropologists
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Old problem - Eliminate colonial gaze in ethnographic film
    • New phenomenon - Indigenous cultures are getting cameras and recording their own cultures
    • Anthropologists are "sharply divided" on how to view this
Paragraph 2
  • Paragraph note
    • One view is described
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Weiner et. al. - Cameras are an assault on indigenous cultures
    • Devalues differences, pushing Western approach (realism, immediacy, self-expression)
    • Paradox - Costs indigenous peoples the culture they want to preserve
    • Weiner - Others who think this is good are naïve
Paragraph 3
  • Paragraph note
    • Other view is described
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Ginsburg et. al. - Weiner appeals to "noble savage" (super negative)
    • Concession - Western objects aren't neutral
    • Non-Western peoples can adopt this tech without Western values
    • Opportunity to preserve language and traditions
Paragraph 4
  • Paragraph note
    • A real-world example backs up Ginsburg's view
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Ex. Turner/Kayapo (oral tradition) - Back up Ginsburg
    • Kayapo record ceremonies and interactions with government (legally binding)
    • Kayapo videos/editing reflect their culture/ceremonies (complex patterns; repetition; sequential organization)
Main Point:
While there is a sharp debate between anthropologists on whether it's good for indigenous cultures to adopt Western technology/cameras, a real-world example suggests that this technology does more harm than good, at least as far as preserving their culture is concerned.

Key Lines:
Lines 8-10 - The phenomenon is introduced
Lines 11-12 - The debate is previewed
Lines 13-15 - The first side of the debate is introduced and outlined
Lines 32-34 - The second side of the debate makes a concession to the first
Lines 34-36 - The second side of the debate rebuts the first
Lines 40-43 - The second side of the debate is outlined
Lines 44-47 - A specific example is introduced that supports the second view
Lines 54-59 - The best line describing the example's relevance

Meta-Structure:
Phenomenon/Implication - This is a variation on the Phenomenon/Explanation pattern. However, there's no explanation for the phenomenon here—the adoption of cameras by indigenous peoples. The debate is over whether it's a good or a bad thing.

Debate - Two sides of a debate are outlined. Here, the Author ends up leaning towards one side.

General Point/Specific Example - The Author brings up a single example to back up the viewpoint that she most closely aligns with. Remember, when a single example serves as the backing for a view, that view isn't on the strongest ground!

Last Thoughts:
That discussion of "ontology" is probably going to show up as at least an answer, since it's not a word you hear every day!

Question prompt

According to the passage, Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

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

Question Type

Social Science

Answer choices

  1. A
    a pattern of sequential Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Incorrect. (Lines 58-59) This describes the Kayapo principle of beauty, as seen in their ceremonies and videos.
  2. B
    paramount truth value
    Why choice B is not credited
    Incorrect. (Line 26) Weiner uses this phrase to describe what some anthropologists do that he views as naive—not something that reflects Western ontology.
  3. C
    self-expression
    Why choice C matches the stem
    Correct. Question Type:
    Must Be True

    Strategy Overview:
    Find where Weiner discusses Western ontology, then find an answer that matches what's in the passage

    Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
    We knew there'd be a question about ontology! It's not a common word. Luckily, this question asks us simply to find what Weiner says is an essential characteristic of it—so no need to define it!

    We know that Weiner's view was discussed in Paragraph 2, so let's head there. Looking through it, we can see the discussion of Western ontology starts in Line 21. Weiner says that it is based on "realism, immediacy, and self-expression." Let's find an answer stating one of these three things.

    Answer Explanation:
    (Lines 21-22) This answer is stated directly in the sentence where Weiner's views on Western ontology are discussed.

    Key Takeaway:
    When a question asks for something that is "[a]ccording" to the passage, or what someone "claims," you should expect the correct answer to be nearly word-for-word in the passage itself.
  4. D
    the "colonial gaze"
    Why choice D is not credited
    Incorrect. (Lines 1-6) The "colonial gaze" was mentioned in lines 1-6 as an old problem that anthropologists strove to overcome before shifting gears, so this is far removed from how Weiner categorizes Western ontology.
  5. E
    theoretical naivete
    Why choice E is not credited
    Incorrect. (Line 28) Similar to (B), this answer reflects Weiner's view towards those anthropologists who treat films created by indigenous groups as having "paramount truth value," not Western ontology.

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