LSAT 6 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q15

LR Question 15 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: J. J. Thomson, the discoverer of the electron and a recipient…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: The skills needed for creative research can be taught and learned.

REASONING: J.J. Thompson trained many physicists who won prestigious prizes.

ANALYSIS: Is this a good argument? “Most people who graduate from Harvard are smart. Therefore Harvard makes people smart.”

It isn’t a good argument, because Harvard is in the business of only admitting people who are already smart.

J.J Thompson may only have trained creative people. It is a necessary assumption that he trained at least some uncreative people.

___________

1. This tells us why students studied with J.J. but it has nothing to do with creativity.
2. This isn’t necessary. It’s only necessary that at least some scientists learned creativity from J.J.
3. CORRECT. If every scientists already was a creative researcher then J.J. can’t have taught them the necessary skills for creativity.
4. This could be true but it isn’t necessary. It’s only necessary that physics requires some sort of creativity.
5. Do those science classes make them creative? This stimulus is about creativity. Science is only used as an example.

Recap: The question begins with “J J Thomson, the discoverer of the electron and a recipient”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.