LSAT Explanation PT 33, S3, Q2: Brewer: All children should be given

LSAT Question Stem

Polanski's response most strongly supports the contention that Polanski misunderstood Brewer to be asserting that 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Misc question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In this passage, we have a conversation between Brewer and Polanski about competitive sports and children. Brewer argues that all children should be given the opportunity to participate in competitive sports because it's a great way to engage their emotions and motivate them to achieve high athletic standards. Polanski disagrees, stating that while competitive sports do create some highly motivated children, many children do not enjoy competition, and forcing them to participate would make them dislike athletics.

The question type here is a bit unusual; we're asked to identify how Polanski misunderstood Brewer's argument. Let's break down the answer choices and see which one best fits this description.

a) This answer choice suggests that Polanski misunderstood Brewer to be saying that the qualities acquired through competitive sports carry over into other aspects of life. However, neither Brewer nor Polanski discuss this idea in the passage. This choice is out of scope.

b) This choice implies that Polanski thought Brewer believed winning at competitive sports is essential to motivation in athletics. While it's true that both discuss motivation, neither of them specifically mention winning as a crucial factor. This choice is not supported by the passage.

c) This choice suggests that Polanski misunderstood Brewer to be saying that children should prioritize athletic activities over all other forms of activity. However, neither of them discuss the relative importance of athletic activities compared to other activities. This choice is not accurate.

d) This choice states that Polanski misunderstood Brewer to be asserting that children should be required to participate in competitive sports regardless of their interests. This is the correct answer because it highlights the main misunderstanding between the two arguments. Brewer never said that children should be forced to participate; he simply argued that they should be given the opportunity. Polanski's response, however, assumes that Brewer wants to force children to participate.

e) Lastly, this choice suggests that Polanski thought Brewer was saying that children cannot be motivated without engaging their emotions. While Brewer does mention the emotional engagement aspect, neither of them directly discuss the relationship between motivation and emotional engagement. This choice is not supported by the passage.

In summary, the correct answer is (D), as it accurately identifies the misunderstanding between Brewer and Polanski's arguments. Brewer only wanted to give children the opportunity to participate in competitive sports, while Polanski assumed that Brewer wanted to force children to participate regardless of their interests.