LSAT 157 – Section 2 – Question 10

LSAT 157 - Section 2 - Question 10

June 2020

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT157 S2 Q10
+LR
Weaken +Weak
A
1%
141
B
11%
152
C
1%
145
D
70%
160
E
17%
151
130
144
159
 +Medium 143.482 +SubsectionEasier

The Industrial Revolution decreased the value that society conferred on physical labor because it enabled unskilled workers to quickly produce goods that formerly took skilled craftspeople long periods of time to produce. Clearly, our most important intellectual skills will similarly be devalued by electronic data-processing technology. Computations that once took skilled mathematicians a long time to perform can now be quickly performed by moderately well-trained high school students using computers.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that the most important intellectual skills in society will be devalued by new technology. This is because computations that used to take experts a long time to complete can now be performed by high school students on computers. The author also draws an analogy to the Industrial Revolution, where technology decreased the value of certain skills due to rapid production.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that computational skills mentioned *are* some of the most “intellectual skills” in society.

A
Much industrial machinery is now designed and built with the aid of computers.
It does not matter who/what designs industrial machinery. This argument is focused on the development of new technologies devaluing highly prized skills
B
Before electronic data-processing technology, improvements in mathematical techniques reduced the amount of time it took to perform computations.
While this suggests that there were past ways to speed up computations, it does not address whether prized intellectual skills will be devalued.
C
On average, skilled mathematicians tend to be much younger when they are in their most productive years than are skilled craftspeople.
It does not matter *when* skilled mathematicians are in their prime. This claim about age does not impact the argument’s reasoning at all
D
The intellectual skills that society values most highly are not computational ones.
This directly challenges the author’s assumption that computational skills are among the most valued intellectual skills. If this is false, the second premise is severely weakened.
E
Electronic data-processing technology has enabled people to perform some tasks that previously could not be performed at all.
While this showcases the benefit of technology, it does not address whether valued skills will be devalued.

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LSAT PrepTest 157 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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