LSAT Explanation PT 31, S3, Q18: It is impossible to do science

LSAT Question Stem

The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The passage presents an argument about the arbitrary nature of science due to its reliance on units of measurement. The argument can be broken down into the following structure:

1. Premise: It is impossible to do science without measuring.

2. Premise: It is impossible to measure without having first selected units of measurement.

3. Premise: The selection of a unit of measurement is always arbitrary.

4. Conclusion: Science is arbitrary.

The question is a Parallel Reasoning question, asking us to identify an answer choice with a pattern of reasoning most similar to the argument in the passage.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) Long hours of practice are necessary for developing musical skill. One must develop one's musical skill in order to perform difficult music. But long hours of practice are tedious. So performing difficult music is tedious.

This answer choice has a similar structure to the passage's argument:

1. Premise: Developing musical skill requires long hours of practice.

2. Premise: Performing difficult music requires developing musical skill.

3. Premise: Long hours of practice are tedious.

4. Conclusion: Performing difficult music is tedious.

Both the passage and answer choice (a) have a chain of requirements, and the conclusion states that a characteristic of the last requirement applies to the first element in the chain. This makes answer choice (a) the correct answer.

b) You have to advertise to run an expanding business, but advertising is expensive. Hence, it is expensive to run a business.

This answer choice changes the conclusion from "expanding business" to just "business," which is not consistent with the structure of the passage's argument. If it said, "Hence, it is expensive to run an expanding business," it would be closer to the original argument, but it would still be missing a segment.

c) It is permissible to sit on the park benches. To sit on the park benches one must walk to them. One way to walk to them is by walking on the grass. So it is permissible to walk on the grass.

This answer choice does not present a chain of requirements like the passage's argument, and the conclusion is not drawn based on a characteristic of one of the requirements.

d) It is impossible to be a manager without evaluating people. The process of evaluation is necessarily subjective. Thus, people resent managers because they resent being evaluated subjectively.

This answer choice's conclusion is about the reason people resent managers, while the passage's argument is about a characteristic being applied to the first element in the chain. The structure is not the same.

e) Some farming on the plains requires irrigation. This irrigation now uses water pumped from aquifers. But aquifers have limited capacity and continued pumping will eventually exhaust them. Thus, a new source of water will have to be found in order for such farming to continue indefinitely.

This answer choice does not present a chain of requirements like the passage's argument, and the conclusion is not drawn based on a characteristic of one of the requirements.

In conclusion, answer choice (a) is the correct answer because it follows the same pattern of reasoning as the argument in the passage.