PrepTest 147

[lcid:3685] Prep Test 147 LSAT — Reading Comp — S2 Reading comp

Passage

Passage A  Muscle memory is a puzzling phenomenon.Most bodybuilders have experienced this phenomenon, yet virtually no discussions of it have Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary

Topic: Science


Passage A

Paragraph 1

  • Paragraph note
    • Phenomenon introduced (easier for bodybuilders to increase muscle size when training a second time)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Comparision, according to the author/bodybuilders:
      • People who are retraining after getting out of shape regain strength faster (third sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "puzzling" (first sentence); "some plausible explanation must exist" (last sentence)

Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • One explanation (body retains muscle fibers to help lift weights)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Comparisons:
      • The more weight a bodybuilder lifts, a greater amount of neurons and muscle fibers are used (third sentence)
      • As bodybuilders train, their bodies may learn to use more neurons and muscle fibers when lifting the heaviest weights (fifth sentence)
      • Even when bodybuilders stop training, their bodies may remember how to utilize the greater number of neurons and muscle fibers (sixth and seventh sentences)
    • Cause-and-effect relationship:
      • Bodybuilders' muscles' greater ability to use neurons and muscle fibers cause them to progress faster when retraining (last sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "potential explanation" (first sentence); "well established" (second sentence); "could be" (fifth sentence); "may remain" (sixth sentence)

Paragraph 3

  • Paragraph note
    • Another explanation (bodybuilders know what they can lift so they add weight more quickly)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Comparisons:
      • The first time bodybuilders train they don't know how much they can lift and add weight slowly; they know what they can lift when retraining and add weight quickly (second through fourth sentences)
    • Cause-and-effect relationship:
      • Adding weights more quickly causes bodybuilders to progress faster when retraining (last sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "also possible" (first sentence); "could" (first sentence)

Passage B

Paragraph 1

  • Paragraph note
    • Phenomenon introduced (easier to increase muscle size after being fit) and explanation previewed (muscles retain trait from old training)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Intersection with passage A:
      • The same phenomenon discussed (muscle memory/faster muscle growth when retraining)
    • Comparisons:
      • It's easier to increase muscle size after already being fit (first sentence)
    • Cause-and-effect relationship, according to previous research:
      • Muscle cells merge with adjacent stem cells and incorporate nuclei from stem cells, which causes cells to get bigger (third and fourth sentences)
    • Author's attitude: "think they know" (first sentence); "demonstrated" (third sentence)

Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • Explanation (muscle cells retain nuclei of stem cells)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Intersection with passage A:
      • The explanation advanced is different than either of passage A's explanations
    • Comparison, according to study:
      • Even after disuse and decreased muscle size, the number of nuclei in lab mice's leg muscle cells stayed the same (third sentence)
    • Possible cause-and-effect relationship, according to the author:
      • The extra nuclei could be ready to make protein/provide strength, which could cause muscles to increase in size more rapidly (last sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "could be" (last sentence)

Main Points?

Passage A: The muscle memory phenomenon — where athletes have an easier time regaining muscle/strength — could plausibly have a physical (neurons) or mental (knowing what weight you can lift) explanation.

Passage B: Scientists believe muscle memory is explained by the retention of extra nuclei in muscle cells after they gain strength, even after those muscles atrophy from disuse.

Key Lines?

Passage A:

Paragraph 1, Sentence 4 (P1, S4) - A phenomenon is introduced

P2, S1 - One potential explanation is described

P3, S1 - Another potential explanation is described

Passage B:

P1, S1 - A phenomenon is noted, and an explanation is previewed

P2, S4 - The explanation is described

Meta-Structure? Relationship Between Passages?

Relationship - Opposing Viewpoints: Neither author completely commits to any of the explanations advanced in the passages, so it's a bit of a stretch to say these authors have "opposing viewpoints." Still, the authors discuss different explanations for the same phenomenon. Passage A's author suggests that either muscle cells' ability to utilize more muscle fibers or mental confidence could explain muscle memory. Passage B's author suggests muscle cells' retention of extra nuclei from stem cells could explain muscle memory. These are distinct explanations, so the best description of the overall relationship between these passages is "opposing viewpoints."

Meta-Structure - Phenomenon/Explanation: Both passages deal with the same phenomenon: muscle memory. And both passages treat it as an actual phenomenon that warrants explanation. Passage A presents two potential explanations, but the author never sides with one over the other. (In fact, both explanations could contribute to the phenomenon) Passage B, on the other hand, presents an explanation that seems to be the current consensus view among scientists (Lines 39-40). In general, the Author's preferred explanation is the passage's main point. Here, however, the author doesn't take sides in Passage A, presenting both explanations as plausible; and the Author of Passage B presents the explanation as what scientists currently think — language that doesn't commit the author to that explanation.

Last Thoughts?

These passages agree on the reality of a phenomenon, but they both put forward different explanations, and neither author commits to the explanation they put forward (though Passage B's author seems closer to doing so than Passage A's). Let's keep that in mind as we work through the questions.

Also, passage A speaks in the second person, addressing the audience as "you." Whenever a passage isn't in the third-person — either because it is in first-person ("I…") or, less commonly, second-person ("You…") — that tends to show up in a question or two.

Question prompt

The author of passage 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.

Question Type

Science

Strategy Overview

Review the characterization of muscle memory from passage A's first sentence, then use the main point and author's attitude from passage B to identify whether they largely agree or disagree; focus on answers aligning with that and use the passages to confirm the details

Answer Anticipation

Let's start with analyzing passage A's first sentence. There, it states that muscle memory is a puzzling phenomenon, so that's what we're trying to get passage B's explanation on.Passage B says that scientists "think they know why" muscle memory happens (Lines 39-40) based on a recent study (Line 52). While the author of passage B doesn't endorse this explanation, they present it as a plausible one with evidence supporting it and at least somewhat of a consensus from the scientific community. So passage B's author would think that the recent study has made scientists think that muscle memory is not a "puzzling phenomenon" as passage A claims, making this somewhat of a point of disagreement.Remember, though, the author of passage B never explicitly endorses this view, so we need to be careful with answers that are too strong.

Answer choices

  1. A
    It confirms that bodybuilders' Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited

    (A) Does this say the author of passage B doesn't find muscle memory quite puzzling as passage A claims?

    Nope, so we can cross off (A). Besides, both authors acknowledge the existence of the phenomenon. Passage A states that bodybuilders have experienced muscle memory (Line 2), and passage B accepts it as a phenomenon that exists (Lines 38-39). Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

  2. B
    It reflects a dichotomy Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited

    (B) Does this say the author of passage B doesn't find muscle memory quite puzzling as passage A claims?

    No. The term "dichotomy" refers to two things somewhat at odds with one another, and "puzzling" lines up with that term. However, the author of passage B doesn't think this phenomenon is very puzzling. So we have no reason to believe the author of passage A would say that muscle memory reflects a dichotomy between athletes' experiences and the processes occurring at the cellular level of their muscles.

  3. C
    It would not be Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited

    (C) Does this say the author of passage B doesn't find muscle memory quite puzzling as passage A claims?

    Nope. The only way this answer makes sense is if the author of passage B believes that bodybuilders wouldn't view muscle memory as a puzzling phenomenon, which would be the case if the author of passage B thought these bodybuilders knew the explanation for it. However, the author of passage B presents the explanation as something discovered from a "recent study" and that scientists think they know — not something bodybuilders think they know. As such, the author of passage B might very well believe that bodybuilders view muscle memory as puzzling — and, potentially, the author might have written this article to explain it to them!

  4. D
    It is less apt Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem

    (D) Does this say the author of passage B doesn't find muscle memory quite puzzling as passage A claims?

    Indeed. Passage A characterizes muscle memory as a puzzling phenomenon. Passage B brings up a recent study that has led scientists to think they can explain it. While passage B's author never endorses this explanation, they present it as a plausible one. This answer reflects that less-than-certain attitude in saying that the study has made passage A's characterization "less apt," meaning that it's less likely to be accurate. With a study and scientific consensus behind this new explanation, characterizing the phenomenon as puzzling is certainly less apt.

  5. E
    It stems from a Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited

    (E) Does this say the author of passage B doesn't find muscle memory quite puzzling as passage A claims?

    Nope. Passage A brings up a psychological explanation for muscle memory, but passage B's only mentioned explanation is physical. And passage B doesn't discuss exercise psychology at all, so we don't know what they believe about that topic.

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