LSAT 142 – Section 2 – Question 09

LSAT 142 - Section 2 - Question 09

December 2014

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT142 S2 Q09
+LR
+Exp
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Rule-Application +RuleApp
A
18%
158
B
0%
151
C
0%
144
D
3%
161
E
79%
165
135
147
159
 +Medium 146.338 +SubsectionMedium

Musicologist: Classification of a musical instrument depends on the mechanical action through which it produces music. So the piano is properly called a percussion instrument, not a stringed instrument. Even though the vibration of the piano’s strings is what makes its sound, the strings are caused to vibrate by the impact of hammers.

Summarize Argument
The musicologist claims that the piano should be called a percussion instrument as opposed to a stringed instrument. This is because the mechanical process through which an instrument produces sound determines how it should be classified, and the strings which vibrate to produce piano sounds do so because of the impact of hammers.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is that the piano should be classified as a percussion instrument as opposed to a stringed one: “the piano is properly called a percussion instrument, not a stringed instrument.”

A
Musical instruments should be classified according to the mechanical actions through which they produce sound.
This is a premise. The musicologist uses this to support the conclusion that the piano is a percussion instrument.
B
Musical instruments should not be classified based on the way musicians interact with them.
This idea is not discussed in the stimulus.
C
Some people classify the piano as a stringed instrument because of the way the piano produces sound.
The musicologist does not make a claim about whether or why some people classify the piano as a stringed instrument.
D
The piano should be classified as a stringed instrument rather than as a percussion instrument.
(D) is trying to trick to us! The musicologist is arguing that the piano should be classified as a percussion instrument rather than a stringed instrument, not the other way around!
E
It is correct to classify the piano as a percussion instrument rather than as a stringed instrument.
This rephrases the conclusion.

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LSAT PrepTest 142 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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