LSAT Explanation PT 34, S2, Q4: For newborns of age four to

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is most reasonably supported by the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

This LSAT problem presents a passage that discusses the effect of a mother's voice on newborns aged four to six weeks when they are crying due to hunger or similar discomfort. The passage states that merely hearing the mother's voice will lead to a temporary halt in crying, while the voices of others do not have this effect. The question is a Most Strongly Supported (MSS) type, which asks us to identify the answer choice that is most reasonably supported by the information provided in the passage.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) Babies more easily learn to recognize the voices of their mothers than the voices of other people.

- This answer choice is not supported by the passage. The passage only tells us that the mother's voice brings comfort when the newborn is crying due to discomfort, but it does not mention the ease with which babies learn to recognize their mothers' voices compared to other people's voices.

b) A mother's voice is the first thing a baby learns to recognize.

- This answer choice is also not supported by the passage. We are only told that the mother's voice brings comfort when the newborn is crying due to discomfort, but the passage does not mention that the mother's voice is the first thing a baby learns to recognize.

c) Babies associate the voice of the primary caregiver with release from discomfort.

- This is the correct answer. The passage tells us that when the mother (who is the primary caregiver) speaks, the newborn's crying due to discomfort temporarily stops. This suggests that the baby associates the mother's voice with relief from discomfort.

d) Often only a primary caregiver can provide comfort to a newborn.

- This answer choice is too broad and not supported by the passage. The passage focuses on the effect of the mother's voice on the newborn's crying due to discomfort. It does not provide enough information to conclude that only a primary caregiver can provide comfort to a newborn.

e) Discomfort in newborns is best relieved by hearing the mother's voice.

- This answer choice is not supported by the passage. While we know that the mother's voice relieves discomfort in newborns when they are crying, we do not know if it is the best way to relieve discomfort. There could be other methods that are more effective in relieving discomfort.

In summary, the correct answer is (c) Babies associate the voice of the primary caregiver with release from discomfort. This answer choice is most reasonably supported by the information provided in the passage.