LSAT Set CR

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LSAT Set CR

by punitkaur » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:17 am
It is now a common complaint that the electronic
media have corroded the intellectual skills required and
fostered by the literary media. But several centuries
ago the complaint was that certain intellectual skills,
such as the powerful memory and extemporaneous
eloquence that were intrinsic to oral culture, were being
destroyed by the spread of literacy. So, what awaits us
is probably a mere alteration of the human mind rather
than its devolution.

The reference to the complaint of several centuries ago
that powerful memory and extemporaneous eloquence
were being destroyed plays which one of the following
roles in the argument?
(A) evidence supporting the claim that the
intellectual skills fostered by the literary media
are being destroyed by the electronic media
(B) an illustration of the general hypothesis being
advanced that intellectual abilities are
inseparable from the means by which people
communicate
(C) an example of a cultural change that did not
necessarily have a detrimental effect on the
human mind overall
(D) evidence that the claim that the intellectual
skills required and fostered by the literary
media are being lost is unwarranted
(E) possible evidence, mentioned and then
dismissed, that might be cited by supporters of
the hypothesis being criticized
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by papgust » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:44 pm
Very tough one! IMO C
Was stuck between C and D, but later realized that D is not a good choice.

Structure: Argument compares the two views - one a historical view and the other - current view. The author compares to see the change of culture (No longer literary media) in the current situation. Finally, the author concludes that there is hardly any detrimental alteration to the human brain. This is what exactly this choice says.

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by viju9162 » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:30 pm
I am also stuck between C and D. However, the word "example" in C is blocking me to choose it. In the argument, the second sentence is the counter premise to the first sentence. Can it be considered as an example?

In D, it might be wrong as it states that the claim is unwarranted. However, in the argument, the author never makes any conclusion about it.

C suits the bill. But I am not really convinced though... Can anyone help me?
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by punitkaur » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:36 pm
OA is C. Thanks for your views!

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by getso » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:42 am
Premise 1: It is now a common complaint that the electronic media have corroded the intellectual skills required and
fostered by the literary media

Premise 2:But several centuries ago the complaint was that certain intellectual skills,
such as the powerful memory and extemporaneous eloquence that were intrinsic to oral culture, were being
destroyed by the spread of literacy

Conclusion:"So, what awaits us is probably a mere alteration of the human mind rather
than its devolution." is the conclusion of the argument.

But in premise 2 the use of BUT indicates that author does not agree with the complaint stated in premise 1.
To support his view author provides an example to prove that complaint is a mere alteration of human mind.


Thus C is the correct answer.

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by getso » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:47 am
Premise 1: It is now a common complaint that the electronic media have corroded the intellectual skills required and
fostered by the literary media

Premise 2:But several centuries ago the complaint was that certain intellectual skills,
such as the powerful memory and extemporaneous eloquence that were intrinsic to oral culture, were being
destroyed by the spread of literacy

Conclusion:"So, what awaits us is probably a mere alteration of the human mind rather
than its devolution." is the conclusion of the argument.

But in premise 2 the use of BUT indicates that author does not agree with the complaint stated in premise 1.
To support his view author provides an example to prove that complaint is a mere alteration of human mind.


Thus C is the correct answer.

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by joseph32 » Sun May 15, 2016 10:37 pm
I would go with option C as the correct option