LSAT 127 – Section 1 – Question 21

LSAT 127 - Section 1 - Question 21

December 2003

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT127 S1 Q21
+LR
+Exp
Argument part +AP
Analogy +An
A
6%
161
B
7%
160
C
14%
156
D
73%
165
E
1%
150
145
154
162
 +Harder 147.168 +SubsectionMedium

Scientist: Isaac Newton’s Principia, the seventeenth-century work that served as the cornerstone of physics for over two centuries, could at first be understood by only a handful of people, but a basic understanding of Newton’s ideas eventually spread throughout the world. This shows that the barriers to communication between scientists and the public are not impermeable. Thus recent scientific research, most of which also can be described only in language that seems esoteric to most contemporary readers, may also become part of everyone’s intellectual heritage.

Summarize Argument

Even though only a few people can understand recent scientific research now, it might eventually become common knowledge. Only a few people initially understood Isaac Newton's Principia, but a basic understanding of his ideas spread worldwide over time. The same thing could happen with recent scientific research.

Identify Argument Part

The stimulus text explains why Newton’s Principia supports the scientist’s main conclusion. It shows that Principia is a good example of what might happen with recent scientific research. Just as only a few people initially understood Principia, only a few people understand today’s scientific research. By highlighting the parallels between today’s research and Principia, the stimulus text explains why Principia is relevant to the author’s argument: If Principia became common knowledge over time, recent research might do the same.

A
It is raised as a potential objection to the argument’s main conclusion, but its truth is called into doubt by the preceding statements.

The stimulus text supports the scientist’s main conclusion by highlighting the similarities between recent scientific research and Newton’s Principia. It does not discuss objections to the conclusion, nor does the scientist call the stimulus text into doubt.

B
It is a premise that supports the argument’s main conclusion by suggesting that the results of recent scientific research are only superficially different from claims made in Newton’s Principia.

The stimulus text is a premise that supports the main conclusion by noting a similarity between Newton’s Principia and recent scientific research—not a difference. Additionally, it notes how people reacted similarly to both, not how similar the recent findings were to Newton’s.

C
It is cited as further evidence for the conclusion that the barriers to communication between scientists and the public are not impermeable.

The stimulus text directly supports the scientist’s main conclusion by highlighting the similarities between recent scientific research and Newton’s Principia. It doesn’t support the claim that the “barriers to communication between scientists and the public are not impermeable.”

D
It is a claim that serves mainly to help establish the relevance of the preceding statements to the argument’s final conclusion.

The stimulus text explains why Newton’s Principia is relevant to the main conclusion. Just as few people initially understood Principia, few understand today’s scientific research, making Principia a good example of what could happen with recent research.

E
It serves to cast doubt on an alleged similarity between Newton’s Principia and recent scientific research.

The stimulus text serves to highlight the similarities between recent scientific research and Newton’s Principia—not to call their similarity into question. The text explains that the two are similar because only a few people initially understood each.

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LSAT PrepTest 127 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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