LSAT 104 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q12

RC Question 12 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Mill’s view is that names are meaningless, but they do have a useful role: they let us distinguish between two people.

I’m Graeme, you’re Joe, she’s Jill, and none of us are the same person.

___________

1. CORRECT. Lines 10-12 support this. Mill’s view might describe European societies, but it doesn’t describe Hopi names.
2. This answer only adds in Levi-Strauss’ view. It ignores that names can have poetic functions, or refer to events.
3. Nonsense. The author also blames Levi-Strauss’ influence.
4. The author never says whether Mill or Levi-Strauss has a better theory. They only claim that both theories are too limited (lines 10-12).
5. Lines 49-50 show that both Levi-Strauss’ and Mill’s theories partly describe Hopi names. But they aren’t enough.