LSAT 38, Reading Comprehension, Q10, LSATHacks

DISCUSSION: Some good arguments aren’t accepted by institutions. (“Imprimatur” means acceptance.)

If you don’t know what imprimatur means, you can read lines 20-23 to get the sentence in full. “Not…imprimatur.” It’s talking about arguments that fail. 

The passage continues the same theme in lines 23-26. They mention that some good arguments don’t get accepted by institutions. 

The LSAT often gives you several ways to understand a single line if you don’t know a word.

___________

1. CORRECT. Lines 23-26 explain lines 22-23. Most people don’t know that “imprimatur” means acceptance. But the passage continues with the same idea, in simpler language. It pays to read beyond the lines specifically mentioned.
   The full sentence “Not…imprimatur.” also shows that the passage is talking about arguments that fail. (lines 20-23) 
2. The arguments probably do challenge institutional beliefs. That’s why institutions don’t accept them.
3. Who knows? If institutional beliefs changed, then a decision might not be accepted even if it was like past decisions. 
4. The arguments were convincing, but the institutions didn’t accept them. Think of Galileo and the church. His argument were rejected based on institutional authority.
5. Lines 22-26 never mention forcing an institution to believe your idea. This answer is just making stuff up.

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