LSAT 145 | Section 3 | Reading Comprehension: Q19

RC Question 19 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Passage A writes from the voice of authority. There are no differing viewpoints mentioned in passage A. The author writes as though they’re describing the indisputable truth.

Passage B shows disagreement. The author mentions Grice and Maritain, but disagrees with them in lines 53-56.

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1. Passage B didn’t say science is incapable of answering the question of animal communication. The author just thought a couple of philosophers were wrong.
    
   Science as a whole can be correct even if individual scientists make mistakes. Indeed, mistakes are almost required.
2. CORRECT. See the discussion above. Passage A has no disagreement. In passage B, the author completely disagrees with Maritain.
3. I can’t see how this is supported. Passage B is argumentative, and the author disagrees with other scholars. They don’t show any particular willingness to believe conflicting opinions. Whereas lines 9-11 in passage A admit that some animals may be able to attribute mental states.
4. Both passages cite research. Passage B doesn’t seem any more supportive of continued research than passage A does.
5. Nonsense. In paragraph 4 the author of passage B says that emerging research calls into question several assumptions. The author is definitely committing to a position.