LSAT 145 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q14

RC Question 14 Explanation

DISCUSSION: The passages’ only point of overlap is communication in general. Passage A doesn’t mention lying. Passage B doesn’t talk about vocalizations.

(I searched all of passage B, there’s no mention of animals making sounds. Only the vaguer “communication” is used. Communication can refer to many non-vocal forms.)

___________

1. Prevaricating means lying. Only passage two talks about lies.
    
   Because passage A does mention goals. , so I could see how this would be a tempting answer if you didn’t know what prevaricating meant. However, passage B didn’t mention goals. The intent in passage B refers to intended meaning, not intended outcome. For instance, 51-52 “intention regarding their use” refers to the use (understanding) of signs communicated. It doesn’t refer to any outcome of communication.
2. CORRECT. Whether animal communication is intentional is the only point in common between the two passages.
    
   For specific line references showing this: see lines 6-10 and 27-29 in passage A. See lines 34-35 and 53-55 in passage B.
3. Neither passage addresses this. Passage A does give some examples of stimuli, but it doesn’t discuss in general what sorts of stimuli prompt vocalizations.
    
   Passage B doesn’t even mention animal vocalizations. For instance, the honeybees are communicating by waggles, not sounds.
4. Passage B doesn’t even talk about non-human primates. This can’t possibly be right.
5. Neither passage mentions consensus. This answer was probably put in for people who read a lot of news about global warming.
    
   Passage A doesn’t even mention the possibility of multiple views.