LSAT 130 | Section 2 | Reading Comprehension: Q8

RC Question 8 Explanation

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

DISCUSSION: The wrong answers here are not only not the main point, they aren’t true. Usually main point wrong answers will either contradict the passage or fail to be supported by it.

The main point is that Emeagwali developed parallel computing and used it to solve a problem. That’s about it.

___________

1. We’re not told about what problems parallel computers have since solved. We’re only told that Emeagwali did solve oil flows, and might solve weather patterns.
2. This goes way too far. In the third paragraph, Emeagwali suggests that parallel computers will help solve problems. But he never suggests that certain past problems could have been “easily solved” with natural paradigms.
3. Lines 58-60 say that Emeagwali thinks that using natural paradigms will help us to understand natural systems. It didn’t say that Emeagwali has discovered the mathematical principles underlying all natural systems. He only used the mathematical principles underlying trees (lines 43-46). Someone else might have discovered those principles.
4. CORRECT. This matches. The natural systems are trees (second paragraph) and honeycombs (third paragraph).
5. This isn’t supported. Paragraph three says that Emeagwali hopes scientists will look to natural systems. But we don’t know if it actually is more likely that they will.