Q26

[LSAT-Chang]

What is the main difference between A and D? The only reason I picked D was because I thought it was more specific than general, but I normally find that correct answers to these types of questions tend to be more general than specific -- so was wondering what was wrong with A. Is it the word "propose" that is too weak? If it had said "discuss a new theory about the workings of the brain", would it have been better? I felt like the passage devoted half of it to answer choice D (starting in line 28), but A seemed like more of a better way of summarizing from line 11 all the way to the end of the passage. Any thoughts??

[bfleisch123]

This one got me as well. I picked (A) also. I guess this is the relevant text:

"and as early as 1904, some speculated that electrical impulses are transmitted between neurons chemically rather than electrically" (8-11)

"This theory has gradually won acceptance in the scientific community, but for a long time little was known about the mechanism by which neurotransmitters manage to render the receiving neurons permeable to ions [...] Recently, however, researchers have gathered enough evidence for a convincing explanation..." (20-30)

So, technically, a new theory about the workings of the brain was PROPOSED in 1904. Thus, (a) is wrong, because it isn't a "new theory"

The author is discussing a new "convincing explanation" of a theory that has "gradually one acceptance in the scientific community" since 1904. This is consistent with answer (d)

[lsociology]

It got me too.

According to the logic of the questions, we may confuse theory with support/evidence. But on second thought, how the chemical reaction really works is not a new "theory" per se?

"Recently, however, researcher have gather enough evidence for a convincing explanation..." that they use "a(n)" explanation seems very tempting because it is a new explanation. You may call it support/evidence as the answer C, but nothing wrong with a new "theory" (A).

[Aquamarine]

I'm really confused between A and D too and can't still understand why A is wrong.

I chose A. The reason why I thought D was wrong is "widely accepted theory" part. The author said it has "gradually" won accepted (Line 20) rather than widely accepted. I think gradually accepted and widely accepted are totally different.

So how is it possible D is the right answer?
And why is A wrong?

Please someone explain me.
Thanks!

[maryadkins]

Tricky one!

(D) is better because as of the beginning of the second paragraph, we know the theory has been accepted. The rest of the passage is about evidence for it. We also don't know how "new" it is (as (A) says) because as early as 1904 (line 9) people began coming up with it.

[Lisaandpeterlin]

I want to try my hand at this - for people who are still stumped on the answer. The reason for A being wrong is that it is not a "new" theory - it is an "alternate theory". The original theory was that the workings of the brain were, "exclusively" by electrical signals. This alternate theory isn't a revamping of a 'new' theory per say, but noticing a glitch in the same theory - that it wasn't 'exclusively' electrical signal related, but chemically generated which then produced a electrical impulse. (all found in the first paragraph). So that is why A is wrong - it is not 'new theory' but an alternate explanation on an existing theory. Answer D is supported by line 20 - on winning the acceptance on the scientific community.