LSAT 155 – Section 4 – Question 04

LSAT 155 - Section 4 - Question 04

November 2019

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

Ask a tutor

Target time: 0:54

This is question data from the 7Sage LSAT Scorer. You can score your LSATs, track your results, and analyze your performance with pretty charts and vital statistics - all with a Free Account ← sign up in less than 10 seconds

Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT155 S4 Q04
+LR
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Method of reasoning or descriptive +Method
A
0%
148
B
0%
142
C
2%
148
D
0%
146
E
96%
160
125
133
140
 +Easiest 147.589 +SubsectionMedium

Leona: Thompson’s article on the novel Emily’s Trials is intriguing but ultimately puzzling. In discussing one scene, Thompson says that a character’s “furrowed brow” and grim expression indicate deep inner turmoil and anxiety. Later, however, Thompson refers to the same scene and describes this character as the “self-identified agent” of an action. This ascription is interesting and challenging in its own right; but Thompson begins the article by claiming that a “self-identified agent” is fundamentally incapable of having misgivings or anxiety.

Summarize Argument
Leona concludes that Thompson’s article about a particular novel is puzzling. This is because it apparently contradicts itself. The article says that one character in the novel is anxious during a particular scene. But the article also says that the same character in that same scene is a “self-identified agent,” and that “self-identified agents” are incapable of feeling anxious.

Describe Method of Reasoning
The author points out a contradiction in the article’s claims.

A
some of Thompson’s reasoning is circular
Circular reasoning involves a conclusion that restates one of the premises. That doesn’t occur here, since the conclusion expresses a different idea from any of the premises.
B
Thompson provides no definition of the concept of a “self-identified agent”
Failure to provide a definition is not a flaw. The author tells us the significance of “self-identified agent” and how it is part of what shows a contradiction. An exact definition is not required.
C
the analysis of character offered by Thompson is insufficiently supported by the textual evidence
The author does not suggest that there isn’t enough evidence to support various claims in the article. The criticism is that the article contradicts itself.
D
it is unlikely that any character could qualify as a “self-identified agent”
The author does not suggest that being a “self-identified agent” is unlikely. The author points out that a certain character’s status as a “self-identified agent” leads to a contradiction (that the character can’t be anxious, even though she was described as anxious).
E
some of Thompson’s claims contradict each other
The author points out that Thompson’s article claims that a character is anxious, but also claims that the same character is a “self-identified agent,” which cannot be anxious. A character cannot be both anxious and incapable of being anxious; this is a contradiction.

Take PrepTest

Review Results

LSAT PrepTest 155 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

Get full LSAT course

Leave a Reply