Q9

[romanmuffin]

I chose A, and I am now thinking it is incorrect because the passage does not necessarily talk about Curie facing any obstacles in dealing with the scientific community of her time.

D is a much broader answer, and now, seems more correct. Is this way of reasoning correct?

[timmydoeslsat]

I agree with you on that.

Answer choices:

A) Obstacles dealing with the scientific community of her time? No evidence of this.

B) Depended on Curie? No.

C) We do not know that the critics were unaware of this. The author does not let us know what they think of this.

D) The author would agree with this statement. Lines 24-27.

E) Discovering polonium and radium is not at the heart of why critics fault Curie not reaching conclusions about how radiation occurs.

[rsmorale]

Thanks, Timmy.

Like the OP, I too chose A. But in hindsight I regret that choice, because the author's entire argument hinges on the historical context in which Marie Curie's conclusions were reached, as evinced by Lines 25-26, 36-37, and 56-60.

[Acing LSAT]

I have a big question on (D). The term "failed to appreciate the importance of the historical context" stuck me as out of scope.

The thing that really threw me off is "importance." This sounds like a general thought about the times she lived in. That she was in a deep struggle against people who did not believe in science (worse even than the "obstacles" she faced in (A)), so she was limited in her ability to do research.

What I see missing here is the historical context being tied to her knowledge of science and not just a turbulent period itself.

It is true that the author defends MC because it "would have been impossible for [her] to reach those conclusions" but as I pointed out I don't see (D) talking directly to that.

[esthertan0310]

At first I also think that A is the correct answer, but then I see the phrase "dealing with the scientific community of her time", which is not discussed in the passage. Meanwhile, the explanation at lines 25-27 can be referred to as the historical context of Curie's scientific conclusions.