LSAT 104 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q24

LR Question 24 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Folklorist: Oral traditions are often preferable to…

QUESTION TYPE: Principle – Strengthen

CONCLUSION: Oral traditions are generally better than written traditions.

REASONING: Oral traditions improve the memory. In written systems, people have to look things up.

Oral traditions get rid of useless knowledge. Written systems have no limits. Written knowledge can go on forever until it gets confusing.

ANALYSIS: We know a few characteristic of oral and written systems. We need a principle that says the characteristics of oral systems are good, or that the characteristics of written systems are bad.

Oral traditions are more concise, and only keep what is useful. The correct answer says this is useful.

___________

1. Is mental self-reliance good? Is oral communication more accurate? We’re not told either of these things. Just because writers have to look stuff up doesn’t mean they won’t be as accurate, in the end.
2. I don’t even know what this means. Do oral populations communicate efficiently with no effort? This doesn’t tell us oral systems have an advantage over written systems.
3. Do written traditions get rid of tradition? We still have books from ancient lands.
4. CORRECT. Reread sentences three and four. Written communication can flow on forever. In oral traditions, people get rid of what they don’t need.
    
   So oral traditions are more economical (sparing) in what they say.
5. Written traditions can be confusing, but that doesn’t mean they’re unable to discuss anything clearly.

Recap: The question begins with “Folklorist: Oral traditions are often preferable to”. It is a Principle Justify question. Learn more about LSAT Principle Justify questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.