LSAT 130 | Section 2 | Reading Comprehension: Q1

RC Question 1 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

DISCUSSION: This is a descriptive passage. The main point is to discuss changes in archaeology and technology that have led us to overcome obstacles and understand ancient craft production.

All of the wrong answers contradict or misinterpret the passage. This is a good way to eliminate answers on Main Point questions. In particular, the author doesn’t think that reconstruction of ancient technology was the goal, or the most important technique. The third paragraph just presents reconstruction as one additional way to help us understand the past.

CODE: main point. Prephrasing main point helpful.

___________

1. Women are only mentioned on line 3. We don’t know if there has been an increase in women’s history specifically.
2. CORRECT. This is a good overall summary. The diverse approaches include: technology, reconstruction of ancient techniques, changes in archaeological attitudes.
3. This wasn’t the point. The passage mentioned replication because it helped us to understand e.g. we figured out how long it would take to make a dress for a statue. This answer gets things backwards and says understanding helped us replicate.
4. This reverses things. It was changes in the field of archaeology that allowed us to understand textiles.
5. The passage doesn’t say this. For example, the oldest known garment, in line 38, is presented as a significant find. Reproduction is mentioned as something that has “advanced on a different front” (lines 42-44).