LSAT 117 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q6

LR Question 6 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Chai: The use of the word “tree” …

QUESTION TYPE: Point at Issue

ARGUMENTS: CHAI’S ARGUMENT: Deciduous and coniferous plants have very different lineages, so it’s wrong to use “tree” to describe both plants.

DODD’S ARGUMENT: They are made of the same material and have very similar structures, so it’s okay to use “tree”.

ANALYSIS: Chai believes different lineages make it scientifically inappropriate to use the same term.

Dodd believes that if the plants have different lineages, it can still be scientifically acceptable to use the same term because of their similarities.

So the disagreement is: Can two biological forms with different lineages still appropriately share the same scientific term?

Chai says no. Dodd says yes.

___________

1. Both discuss whether “tree” is scientifically acceptable, but neither expresses a general opinion about using ordinary terms in science. They only debate this particular term.
2. CORRECT. Chai thinks no, because different lineages make “tree” scientifically inadequate. Dodd says yes, because their similarities make the term acceptable.
3. Neither speaker discusses whether these plants evolved from simpler forms.
4. Neither speaker talks about whether lay terms should reflect current scientific theories.
5. Both speakers actually agree that biological forms with similar structures can have different lineages. Chai explicitly says deciduous and coniferous plants have different lineages, and Dodd never disputes that fact. He simply thinks the structural similarities still justify using the same term.