LSAT 12 - Section 4 - Question 14

Here we have a Method of Reasoning question, which we know from the question stem: “Jermone responds to Ingrid’s claim by…”

After correctly identifying the question type we can use structural analysis to describe the Method of Reasoning used by our speaker. Immediately we should note we have two speakers in our stimulus. That means we need to be on the lookout for two conclusions and two sets of explanations. Our first speaker, Ingrid, lays out a claim; rock has not produced compared to those of the 1940s, because the 1940s records are the ones that continue to be recorded by numerous performers today. Here, Ingrid is assuming a requirement of being a durable song is that it is recorded by numerous performers.

Jerome responds by questioning Ingrid’s assumption. Jerome recognizes that rock songs are only recorded once. However, our second speaker explains this actually reflects the durability of the recordings rather than the lack of popularity of these songs. Jerome challenges Ingrid’s definition of durability to further their own point about the durability of rock music.

Knowing our answer choice will mention the debate surrounding the qualifications of a durable song, we can proceed into answer choice elimination.

Answer Choice (A) We do not have the evidence to suggest that Jermone is intentionally misinterpreting Ingrid’s claim. An answer choice commenting on the intentions of one of the speakers has to follow up with strong confirmatory evidence.

Answer Choice (B) Rather than showing that the claim necessarily leads to a contradiction, Jerome is challenging Ingrid to change the way in which we define durable to begin with.

Answer Choice (C) If our speaker were undermining the truth of Ingrid’s position we would expect Jermone to be challenging the factual content regarding performers in the 1940s. Without questioning the validity of this information we can eliminate answer choice C.

Correct Answer Choice (D) This is exactly what we are looking for. This is the only answer choice that points out how Jermone adjusts the standards for determining what a durable song is.

Answer Choice (E) In order for this answer choice to be correct, we would need to see some indication that Jerome’s argument is based on some sort of character attack. We can eliminate the answer choice Eqwithout this information.