Q1

[lisahollchang]

I struggled between answers B and C and finally chose C when I completed 5 and the answer to that question (that the passage functions as an "account of how a particular branch of research has successfully coped w/ certain difficulties") seemed to indicated that C would be the correct answer. I'm wondering if anyone can help explain why B is superior. Thanks!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Thanks for posting your question on the forum!

Answer choice (C) could be tempting since it is information that's supported by the passage. We call the common error contained in answer choice (C) "narrow scope." This error is particularly common on questions about the main point.

The main point of the passage is a bit broader than just establishing that researchers can now replicate the production methods used by the ancient world. The passage tells about how scientists used such knowledge to learn about the ancient world. Answer choice (B) correctly describes the use of this knowledge by the researchers to learn about the ancient world.

Does that answer your question?

[lisahollchang]

Thanks! I agree that B broadens the scope whereas C stops just a little short. Thanks for the explanation! I'm usually able to pick out wrong answers that are too narrow for the main conclusion, but this one seemed trickier than most!

[LSAT-Chang]

I chose (D) for this.. what is wrong with (D)??

[legalrabbithole]

I think (D) is wrong because it distorts the relationship between research on textiles and changes in the field of archaeology. Research on textiles didn't cause the field of archaeology to change.

This answer choice preys on readers who misread lines 26-27 which state "As IF in preparation for such advances (in textile research), the field of archaeology has also undergone...[etc etc about various changes]." The passage isn't saying that research on textiles led to the changes in the field of archaeology but that they coincided with each other at a convenient time.

[crazinessinabox]

I also struggled with (B) or (C). I ultimately did not choose (B) because of the phrase "scant evidence that remains." I thought that (1) the idea that there is scant evidence really went against the point of the passage and (2) l. 18 "...and also about how to piece together a whole picture from many disparate sources of evidence."

I was a bit torn when reviewing the question because the first paragraph does support that there isn't much evidence, but the rest of the passage goes on to describe lots of different evidence researchers have been able to use with the development of new technology.

Did this strike anyone else as a potential problem with (B)?

[slimjimsquinn]

After reviewing this question I actually dismissed the correct answer I chosen. It doesn't mention women's crafts. Could a main point question be too general?

[connie.l.wang]

I was also struggling between B and C, but the part of the passage that helped me decide on B was lines 14-18, where it says, "Yet despite these obstacles, researchers have learned a great deal about ancient textiles and those who made them, and also about how to piece together a whole picture from many disparate sources of evidence." That language matches up much better with B than C.