LSAT 101 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q4

LR Question 4 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: P says the Greek language wasn’t invented to write down the Homeric epics.

REASONING: Anyone who knew them well enough to write down would have had no need to read them. And according to M, no one else in Greece could have read the epics either.

ANALYSIS: It’s hard to assess P’s argument. While his reasoning sounds good, he doesn’t provide any evidence.

The weakness identified in the right answer comes pretty far out of left field. I hadn’t pre-identified it. On some questions it’s fine to look at the answer choices without having any idea what the right answer might be.

___________

1. This is a criticism of M’s argument. P didn’t mention the Phoenicians.
2. P never says what the first Greek text was. He implies it wasn’t a Homeric epic.
3. P doesn’t mention what oral language or written language needs.
4. P didn’t show anything was possible. He tried to show that M’s idea was practically impossible.
5. CORRECT. This is a (fairly weak) criticism of P’s argument. It certainly is possible that someone decided to create an entire alphabet to write down two large poems and then teach others how to read them.

Recap: The question begins with “M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.