LSAT 123 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q3

LR Question 3 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Carolyn: The artist Marc Quinn has displayed, behind a glass…

QUESTION TYPE: Point at Issue

ARGUMENTS: Carolyn says that the fragments of Sir John Sulston’s DNA aren’t a portrait, because portraits need to resemble their subjects.

Arnold says that the DNA arrangement is a portrait, because it has instructions for how to create Sulston.

ANALYSIS: Mary’s use of the word “but” indicates she disagrees with the preceding sentence. That sentence says that Quinn’s work is a portrait.

So, Mary doesn’t think that Quinn’s work is a portrait. But, Arnold does think it’s a portrait: he says Quinn’s work is a maximally realistic portrait.

___________

1. Carolyn said nothing about whether Quinn’s work is art in general. She only said it isn’t a portrait.
2. Similar to A. Carolyn didn’t disagree that Quinn made the work.
3. This is a trap answer. Clearly, Mary says that Quinn’s work doesn’t bear a resemblance.
    
   But, did Arnold say that the work bears a resemblance? No, he didn’t. Instead, he only said the work has instructions for how to create Sulston.
    
   So, Arnold is saying he has different criteria for what a portrait is. The work is a portrait because it is “maximally realistic”. Arnold didn’t necessarily say whether the DNA resembles Sulston. (If anything, the DNA is Sulston)
4. Carolyn didn’t mention DNA instructions. But, she probably wouldn’t disagree with this statement, since it’s generally recognized that DNA is instructions.
5. CORRECT. See the analysis above. Carolyn says no (or at least strongly implies it), Arnold says yes.