LR Question 19 Explanation
QUESTION TEXT: McKee: Heckling the performer is a long-standing tradition…
QUESTION TYPE: Point at Issue
CONCLUSION: McKee says that it’s unwise for comedy venues to prevent heckling. Chapman seems to refute this idea.
REASONING: McKee says heckling is a long-standing tradition, and the performers know this and respond entertainingly.
Chapman says heckling is only a tradition because we tolerate it, and describes heckling as a distraction from the performance that’s only fun for the person heckling.
ANALYSIS: It seems like McKee is pro-heckling and Chapman is anti-heckling. McKee wants venues to allow heckling, but Chapman doesn’t agree.
We need to figure out which one of the four answers is something these two might agree on. We don’t have to know for sure that they agree, it just has to be possible.
___________
- McKee explicitly says that it’s unwise to prevent heckling, but Chapman has strong words to disapprove of heckling. It’s clear they disagree on whether it should be tolerated.
- McKee says heckling is a “tradition of stand-up comedy” and that performers know to react entertainingly. It seems that McKee considers heckling part of a performance, but Chapman specifically says that heckling usually distracts from the performance.
- CORRECT. McKee clearly thinks the best comedians can respond entertainingly. Chapman says heckling distracts “in most cases”, indicating that they sometimes find it entertaining.
- Chapman says that heckling is only fun for the heckler. McKee says that performers respond entertainingly and that it’s a long-standing tradition.
- McKee specifically doesn’t want venues to prevent heckling, which they describe as a long-standing tradition. Chapman agrees that heckling is a tradition, but doesn’t think it should be allowed.
Recap: The question begins with “McKee: Heckling the performer is a long-standing tradition”. It is a Point at Issue question. Learn how to master LSAT Point at Issue questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.
More Resources for Point at Issue Questions
- Intro Course lesson: This intro course lesson covers Point at Issue questions.
- Mastery Seminar lesson: This LR Mastery seminar lesson covers point at issue questions.
Hi Graeme,
I found it a little puzzling to understand why the implications of Chapman’s statement about “most cases” apply to C but not to B.
In C, the reasoning for it being correct was that McKee clearly agrees, while Chapman says “most cases” of heckling are distracting, implying that in other cases, it is entertaining. So then for B, with the same reasoning, given that McKee agrees that heckling should be considered part of the performance, then for Chapman shouldn’t “most cases” being distracting also imply that sometimes it is NOT a distraction and thus a part of the performance?
With this, I was trying to think of what other explanations there could have been for why C is right (they do not disagree) while B is not (they disagree). Perhaps it could be because McKee never explicitly spoke on what makes the “best” stand-up comedians (albeit it could be stretched that he thinks someone who makes heckling entertaining is one aspect that makes the best comedians), while Chapman never implied anything about what makes the best comedians? Do you have any other pointers as to why C is right?
Hi! Here’s my best attempt at further clarifying the reasoning for B and C.
C: McKee clearly thinks the best comedians can respond entertainingly to heckling. For Chapman, he says it’s a distraction in most cases, but most cases does indeed leave room for exceptions. Since McKee and Chapman agree that some comedians can handle heckling well, they don’t fundamentally disagree on C.
B: Again, McKee’s stance is clear in that he clearly thinks it’s a long-standing tradition that comedians prepare for, so it’s a part of their performance. For Chapman‚ you’re right that it’s a little complicated. B says that responses to heckling SHOULD be considered part of the comedians’ performance. This means that B is saying that in general, heckling is a part of their performance. However, Chapman is saying that in MOST CASES, it’s just a distraction from the performance. So if the instances where it’s not a distraction (and if we presume not a distraction from the performance to mean a part of the performance) are only an exception (i.e. the FEW cases), Chapman cannot agree that it SHOULD be considered a part of the performance. In essence, B is saying that heckling should generally be considered a part of the performance. But Chapman says that in most cases it’s a distraction. So he can’t agree to this generalization.
So, “most cases” doesn’t actually apply differently to B and C. In C, the exception helps us because it allows Chapman to agree that it can sometimes be entertaining. In B, however, the exception goes against B’s statement that both would agree to consider heckling as a general rule. Hopefully that helps!