LSAT 101 – Section 3 – Question 03

LSAT 101 - Section 3 - Question 03

December 1997

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT101 S3 Q03
+LR
Method of reasoning or descriptive +Method
A
1%
149
B
2%
165
C
1%
156
D
93%
168
E
4%
161
126
138
150
 +Easier 146.901 +SubsectionMedium

M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.

P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them; and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
P concludes that M’s hypothesis that the Greek alphabet was invented by someone who wanted to record Homeric epics is laughable. As support, P questions the purpose of such a person recording Homeric epics, since that person would know the epics well enough to not need to read them. Additionally, nobody else would be able to read the stories if the person was writing them in a newly invented language.

Describe Method of Reasoning
P responds to M by making M’s hypothesis seem ridiculous. P claims that the type of person who M claims would have invented the Greek alphabet would not have had a reason to write down Homeric epics in Greek.

A
attacking M’s understanding of the literary value of oral poetry
P does not discuss the literary value of oral poetry, so P’s argument did not contain an attack against M’s understanding of the literary value of oral poetry.
B
disagreeing with M’s thesis without attempting to refute it
P does attempt to refute M’s thesis. P does so by illustrating that the type of person who M claims would have invented the Greek alphabet would not have had a reason to write down Homeric epics in Greek.
C
challenging M’s knowledge of the Phoenician writing system
P does not challenge M’s knowledge of the Phoenician writing system; P does not mention the Phoenician writing system nor does she question M’s knowledge.
D
attempting to undermine M’s hypothesis by making it appear absurd
P concludes that M’s hypothesis is laughable, and attempts to show that the person who M claims invented the Greek alphabet would not have any reason to write down Homeric epics, thus making M’s argument seem absurd.
E
providing an alternative interpretation of evidence put forward by M
Neither P nor M provides evidence, and P does not give an alternative interpretation of any previously discussed evidence.

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LSAT PrepTest 101 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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