PrepTest 156

[lcid:3720] Prep Test 156 LSAT — Reading Comp — S1 Reading comp

Passage

 Because most agricultural practices in North America produce row after row of only a few, genetically identical, varieties of crops, Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary

Topic:
Science/Social Science

Paragraph 1
  • Paragraph note
    • Problem/Solution and Old Approach/New Approach
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Problem: North American agri practices are eroding the genetic base of crops, making them less durable (pests/disease)
    • Solution/New Approach: Look into indigenous farmers (practices, heirloom varieties of crops)
    • Old Approach: Focus on agricultural methods brought to North America from elsewhere


Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • Study/Examples of better practices by indigenous farmers
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Study: Indigenous farmers used genetics to make varieties
    • Example: Hybridization — Lots of varieties of (list of crops) that resisted disease/pests
    • Example: Make crops for local environments, less dependent on irrigation


Paragraph 3

  • Paragraph note
    • Process of maintenance; new wrinkle on problem
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Process: Regional exchange networks for seeds; oral tradition for methods
    • Problem: World market economy leading to these practices and varieties being lost, so need to protect ASAP


Main Point:

Because mass farming practices have harmed crop durability, it's important to turn to indigenous farmers' practices to protect the genetic base of crops, especially as the world market is starting to cause these practices to be lost.

Key Lines (P(aragraph)#, S(entence)#)?

P1, S1 - The problem
P1, S2 - One solution
P1, S3 - The Old and New Approaches
P2, S2 - An example is introduced
P2, S4 - Another example
P3, S1 - Processes by which the solution has worked
P3, S2 - A new wrinkle to the problem
Meta-Structure?



Problem/Solution: The opening sentence here introduces what is clearly a problem: the increasing susceptibility of food crops to pests and disease due to current agricultural processes. From this, we should expect the author to bring up a solution, or a variety of solutions. The author does so explicitly in the second sentence — looking to the "store of agricultural knowledge" held by indigenous farmers and the heirloom crops they work with. While the author calls this only a "possible" solution, the rest of the passage describes why this knowledge and these crop varieties can solve the problem, which suggests the author has at least some faith in the solution. In a Problem/Solution passage where the author supports a particular solution, the solution is the main point, reflected in our summary above.

Old Approach/New Approach: In Paragraph 1, Sentence 3, the author brings up Old and New Approaches used by crop geneticists to preserve the genetic base of crops. The Old Approach focused on studying "solely" agricultural methods brought to North America from elsewhere. These approaches aren't mentioned again. The New Approach is to study the methods and varieties of crops produced by indigenous farmers, which is the solution/main point. So this Meta-Structure informs the main point, but it isn't the central Meta-Structure that defines the passage. Expect a question or two on this Meta-Structure, but we shouldn't eliminate main point answer choices simply because they don't reference the old approach.

Last Thoughts?

This is a fairly straightforward passage as far as information, structure, and Meta-Structures are concerned, so let's head to the questions!

Question prompt

Which one of the 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

Science

Answer choices

  1. A
    certainty that these crops Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    (P1, S2) This answer is too strong in stating that the author is certain that heirloom crops will solve a problem. Recall, the author states this is a "possible" solution in the passage. Also, the author doesn't address the economics of heirloom crops, just on their ability to withstand pests and disease.
  2. B
    relief that these crops Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    (P1, S2) While the author does show that indigenous farmers have maintained these heirloom crops, the problem that kicks the passage off is the erosion of the genetic base of North America's food crops. So the author believes that these heirloom varieties can maintain the genetic base, not that they have already done so.
  3. C
    optimism that the agricultural Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem

    Question Type:
    Author's Attitude

    Strategy Overview:
    Review any statements made by the author on the value of heirloom crops

    Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
    For Author's Attitude questions, answer choices tend to fall into one of two categories: two-word answer choices or opinion + detail answer choices. The former generally capture only the direction (positive/negative/neutral) and strength of the author's opinion. The latter generally capture the direction and strength in one word, then add some details in the rest of the answer. This question falls into the latter camp, so we should determine the general direction of the author's attitude and then focus on answer choices that align with the author's opinion before confirming that the details are accurate.

    So, here, how does the author view heirloom varieties of crops? We know that the author argues that studying them and using them could counter the eroding genetic base of North American crops (P1, S2). In that sentence, however, the author calls this solution a "possible" one, suggesting that her opinion isn't absolute.

    With that in mind, let's head to the answer choices, focusing on positive-but-uncertain ones, and then use our big-picture knowledge of the passage and our notes to work through any details.

    Answer Choice Explanation:
    (P1, S2) This answer perfectly reflects the author's opinion of heirloom crops (and the associated knowledge and practices) as a potential solution to the erosion of the genetic base for North American crops. Optimism suggests a positive belief, but not certainty. Moreover, the details conveyed in the rest of this answer choice align with the details discussed in this passage. This answer is therefore correct.

    Key Takeaway:
    Usually, Author's Attitude questions will feature a mix of positive, negative, and neutral answer choices, allowing you to quickly narrow down to a couple options. However, some will have answers that all point in the same "direction." Here, all the answers could be seen as positive. When that's the case, you'll need to think a bit more precisely about the Author's Attitude so you can make some eliminations based on how that direction is framed.

  4. D
    pride in the agricultural Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    In general, the more "emotional" or "personal" answers tend to be wrong in Author's Attitude questions, as the author is usually removed from the situation and talking about it academically or analytically. Feeling "pride" usually suggests a degree of personal involvement and a relationship with the subjects in question (here, agricultural researchers), and the passage doesn't back that up.
  5. E
    confidence that the world Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    (P3, S2) In the final paragraph, the author raises some urgency in collecting and harnessing the information and crop varieties used by indigenous farmers because the "penetration of the world market economy" has led to the disappearance of some information and crops already. As such, the author is not confident that the world market economy will lead to this solution being adopted. If anything, the author believes the opposite!

What this tests

Discussion

View all discussions Start a discussion