LSAT 129 – Section 1 – Question 18

LSAT 129 - Section 1 - Question 18

June 2009

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT129 S1 Q18	+LR +Exp	Most strongly supported +MSS	A 10% 160 B 3% 159 C 55% 166 D 2% 156 E 30% 159	152 161 169	+Hardest	146.023 +SubsectionMedium

Asked by researchers to sort objects by shape, most toddlers in a large study had no trouble doing so. When subsequently told to sort by color, the toddlers seemed to have difficulty following the new rule and almost invariably persisted with their first approach. The researchers suggest such failures to adapt to new rules often result from insufficient development of the prefrontal cortex in toddlers. The cortex is essential for functions like adapting to new rules, yet is slow to mature, continuing to develop right into adolescence.

Summary

In a large study, most toddlers were able to sort objects by shape when asked by researchers. However, when the researchers asked the toddlers to sort the objects by color the toddlers struggled. The researchers hypothesize that this is because of the toddler’s insufficient development in their prefrontal cortex. The cortex is essential for functions like adapting to new rules, and continues to develop into adolescence.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

Some behaviors exhibited by toddlers may not be intentional.

Toddlers unable to sort objects by color tend to have a less developed prefrontal cortex than other children of the same age.

This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the study whether the inability to sort objects by color is an effect of an underdeveloped cortex. Rather, we know difficulty in adapting to new rules is an effect of an underdeveloped cortex.

Only adolescents and adults can solve problems that require adapting to new rules.

This answer is unsupported. We know from the study that a developed cortex is necessary for certain behaviors, but we do not know whether it is sufficient. Saying that “only” adolescents and adults have these abilities is too strong.

Certain kinds of behavior on the part of toddlers may not be willfully disobedient.

This answer is strongly supported. The toddlers behaved the way they did because they were more or less incapable, not because they willfully disregarded the researcher’s instructions.

The maturing of the prefrontal cortex is more important than upbringing in causing the development of adaptive behavior.

This answer is unsupported. We don’t know how important of a factor upbringing is for adaptive behavior. Upbringing was not a factor that was part of the researcher’s study.

Skill at adapting to new situations is roughly proportional to the level of development of the prefrontal cortex.

This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the study whether the development of a person’s cortex is proportional to this skill. We only know that these two things may be correlated.

LSAT 129 – Section 1 – Question 18

LSAT 129 - Section 1 - Question 18

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LSAT PrepTest 129 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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