LSAT 130 – Section 3 – Question 13

LSAT 130 - Section 3 - Question 13

September 2009

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Target time: 1:49

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT130 S3 Q13
+LR
+Exp
Sufficient assumption +SA
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
6%
158
B
80%
164
C
9%
158
D
3%
156
E
1%
155
136
147
158
 +Medium 145.135 +SubsectionEasier

J.Y.’s explanation

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Journalists sometimes use historical photographs to illustrate articles about current events. But this recycling of old photographs overstates the similarities between past and present, and thereby denies the individual significance of those current events. Hence, the use of historical photographs in this manner by journalists distorts public understanding of the present by presenting current events as mere repetitions of historical incidents.

Summary
The author concludes that a journalistic practice (use of historical photographs) warps public perception of the present. For support, she cites that the practice makes past and present seem more similar than they really are, causing current events to seem less important.

Missing Connection
The conclusion is about warping public understanding, but there is no information on what qualifies as warping public understanding. The premise would lead to the conclusion if we knew that at least one of the effects (overstating similarities or current events seeming less important) of the journalistic practice means that public perception is distorted.

A
Any practice by which journalists present current events as mere repetitions of historical incidents overstates the similarities between past and present.
This does not lead to a conclusion about warping public perception. It leads to something we already know—that this practice overstates similarities between past and present.
B
If the work of a journalist overstates the similarities between past and present, then it distorts public understanding of the present by presenting current events as mere repetitions of historical incidents.
This is a direct link from a known effect of the journalistic practice to the distortion of public perception.
C
If a journalistic practice distorts public understanding of the present by overstating the similarities between past and present, then it denies the individual significance of any articles about current events.
In the sufficient condition, this answer combines conclusion with premise. We cannot use this, because we cannot trigger a sufficient condition that is wholly or in part made of what we are already trying to prove (that the practice distorts public understanding).
D
No article about a current event treats that event as merely a repetition of historical incidents unless it uses historical photographs to illustrate that article.
Phrased differently, this is “If an article about a current event treats that event... then it uses historical photographs...”, but we do not need to conclude that anyone is using historical photographs.
E
If journalists believe current events to be mere repetitions of historical incidents, then public understanding of the present will be distorted.
Belief is irrelevant; we don’t know anything about what the journalists believe.

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LSAT PrepTest 130 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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