LSAT 108 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q22

RC Question 22 Explanation

DISCUSSION: The author emphasizes that many linguists now think that language only has meaning as an agreed upon convention.

For scientists, this means that mathematics only has meaning if we agree on what math means. Once we agree, then a mathematical statement can refer to something in the real world (lines 38-44).

All of this leads to the fourth paragraph. Language and mathematics are more uncertain than we thought. This makes science uncertain. Lines 50-55 say that science must examine what functions mathematical language plays in the acquisition of scientific knowledge.

___________

1. The author thinks that mathematics is a language, so this draws a false distinction. And while its true that math and science are imperfect (everything is imperfect), this is not something the author focusses on specifically.
2. The passage never talks about accepting math as precise or imprecise. Instead, scientists may agree to accept a mathematical statement as a description of the real world (lines 38-44).
3. This may be a good idea, but it’s never mentioned in the passage. Nowhere. I’m not sure what else to say about it.
4. CORRECT. This captures the essence of the fourth paragraph, which summed up the rest of the passage. See lines 49-55.
    
   Because of the uncertainty of mathematical and scientific language, scientists must investigate what role language plays in advancing scientific knowledge.
5. Who knows? Scientists still haven’t examined the role mathematical language plays in acquiring scientific knowledge (lines 50-55). But they might eventually do so, even if the linguists had never said anything.