PrepTest 153

[lcid:3711] Prep Test 153 LSAT — Reading Comp — S4 Reading comp

Passage

Questions 8-13 This passage is based on an article published in 1996.  .       Of the 300 indigenous languages spoken when Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic: Humanities

Paragraph 1
  • Paragraph note
    • A problem is introduced, and several solutions that are already happening are noted
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Problem - Indigenous languages are disappearing, due to US policies that forced the teaching of English to Native Americans
    • Solutions - University courses, recordings of native speakers, radio stations
Paragraph 2
  • Paragraph note
    • More info on one of the solutions
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Radio stations are particularly good because of oral traditions
    • Spread language, inform listeners of local news, reengage older generations
Paragraph 3
  • Paragraph note
    • A problem/threat to the solution from the last paragraph is noted
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • The internet is driving the adoption of English, threatening the preservation of native languages
    • To combat this, radio programming must resonate with living oral traditions
Paragraph 4
  • Paragraph note
    • A distinction is made that leads to potential solutions to the secondary problem in the previous paragraph
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Distinction - English secondary, plenty of good radio programming; English primary, programming is mostly bad/instructional
    • Effective programming - recordings, games, speeches, songs; lessons in printed newspapers
Main Point:
The use of radio can be effective in preserving native languages, despite bad policy and the internet, with the right programming that reflects the oral tradition of these communities.

Key Lines:
Lines 1-5 - The statement of the problem
Lines 11-18 - Solutions
Lines 19-22 - The solution the Author is focusing on is clear
Lines 31-33 - A secondary problem with this solution is brought up
Lines 39-43 - How to address that secondary problem
Lines 52-55 - More details on addressing the problem

Meta-Structure:
Problem/Solution. In particular, this passage brings up a problem and several solutions before digging into one of those solutions. It also has a secondary problem noted with that solution, which itself has solutions proposed to address it.

Last Thoughts:
Since this passage has two "layers" of problems, we should be sure that we keep that straight in our minds. The overarching problem is the threat of losing native languages, and the secondary problem is with one of the ways in addressing that. Keeping these ideas distinct will be key to answering the big picture questions.

As to detail questions, knowing the role of each paragraph is going to be key. They all have distinct topics, so if we have a strong notation for each, we should be able to quickly home in on the right one for any specifics that a question might ask about.

Question prompt

The author's primary purpose 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

Humanities

Answer choices

  1. A
    cite an example of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Incorrect. (Line 20) The second paragraph notes that radio is a "particularly effective" tool, which suggests that it's likely more effective than the average tool. However, there's no indication that the listed solutions in the passage are less effective than average—maybe they're all particularly effective, and the passage doesn't mention the less effective tools. The language suggesting this answer comes after the examples are given, in a new paragraph, which is a good hint that the ideas aren't linked. We'd need to see more specific comparative language before selecting this answer.
  2. B
    indicate one of the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Incorrect. (Lines 13-15) The passage hasn't even mentioned native language programming by the time it brings up the university courses, so it's exceedingly unlikely that such courses are an effect of that programming.
  3. C
    provide evidence that interest Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    Correct. Question Type:
    Argument Structure

    Strategy Overview:
    Find the statement in question and then define it in the context of the paragraph and passage

    Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
    Looking at our notations, we can see that the passage brings up this curricula in the first paragraph (Lines 13-15) as one solution being enacted to preserve native languages. However, the passage then moves on to discussing another—radio broadcasts—and never circles back to discussing the curricula.

    So these initial solutions are being raised to show that there has (Lines 11-13) "recently been a resurgence in native language study and preservation efforts," and we should look for an answer reflecting that role.

    Answer Explanation:
    (Lines 11-13) The first paragraph pivots to solutions for the problem of disappearing languages and says that there has "recently been a resurgence" in interest in preserving them, following that up with a few examples, including university courses. As such, the courses are an example of a way that people have recently become interested in their preservation, and "resurgence" suggests growth, making this the correct answer.

    Key Takeaway:
    When a Must Be True question in RC asks about a specific topic, you should head back to the passage to find where it's discussed. If you can't find it quickly, during your review, figure out what about it made it likely to be important and thus something that you should have notated! Here, it served as a solution to the noted problem.
  4. D
    show that the attitudes Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Incorrect. (Lines 7-8) The passage notes that the government policies were in place through the 60s, and that these efforts are taking place more recently than that. As such, we don't learn anything about how government officials currently feel about the study of native languages, and this answer is thus out of scope.
  5. E
    point out one of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Incorrect. (Lines 13-15; Lines 16-19) The section discussing university courses immediately precedes the section where radio programming is introduced, which could suggest that the two are linked, and the university courses are a factor in the popularity of that programming. However, the passage itself never links the two, and the courses aren't brought up again in the passage, so this answer is incorrect.

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