LSAT 75, Reading Comprehension, Q23, LSATHacks

RC Question 23 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Which one of the following best summarizes the…

DISCUSSION: Lines 20-23 show that the author completely agrees with Zanotto’s study. The author says the study debunks the popular myth of glass flow. That means the author thinks the study is correct.

While the myth was persistent, glass experts did not believe in the myth (lines 1-4). So Zanotto’s work, while correct and interesting, is not saying anything that glass experts didn’t already believe.

However, lines 39-43 show that Zanotto’s work does provide some new data. Previously, it seems scientists had only reasoned through the possibilities. Now Zanotto’s work provides actual data proving them correct.

___________

1. CORRECT. See the analysis above. The three excerpts I quote, in combination, show that this is the correct answer. Zanotto provided data to support a belief that scientists already held.
2. The second half of this is right. Lines 1-4 show that glass researchers thought this was settled.
   But Zanotto merely confirmed their account. So there’s no new research needed.
3. Lines 7-10 say that the origins of the myth are unclear. Zanotto’s study was based on confirming that the myth is false. He didn’t look into the history of the myth.
4. Which two views? Don’t choose an answer like this unless you can very clearly find the two views and spell out how they’re incompatible.
5. Nonsense. This passage appears to have completely explained the phenomenon of why glass is thicker at the bottom. Zanotto showed that it’s not flow speed (paragraphs 2 and 3). And then the author shows the real explanation was glass making techniques (paragraph 4).

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