LSAT 104 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q10

RC Question 10 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Lines 8-10 show that Levi-Strauss thought names classified us socially.

Many names refer to medieval jobs.

For example:

• Cooper = Someone who makes barrels
• Scribner = A scribe
• Carpenter = Self-evident
• Mason = Someone who worked with stone
• Smith = This name generally indicates a blacksmith
• Haddad = blacksmith or locksmith
• Cohen = priest

So if you have one of those names, it’s likely that an ancestor of yours worked that job.

___________

1. This is vague. We don’t know if these selected names signify social class.
2. This name tells us something about the individual child. We want the name to tell us about their social class instead.
3. If you aren’t famous and you name your child after someone famous, their name is definitely not an indicator of social class.
4. This is just confusing, from a social class perspective. Members of the same family usually belong to the same class.
5. CORRECT. Occupations are usually a sign of social class. So if you have a name like “Cooper”, it probably means one of your ancestors made barrels for a living.