LSAT 145 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q27

RC Question 27 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Suppose a scholar believes that the surviving…

DISCUSSION: The evidence specifically is on lines 51-55: a distinct pattern of mutations suggest transfer of mutations.

So the right answer should have a distinct pattern in the text that shows alterations were done in a later era.

___________

1. This would let us know what was changed, but not when the changes were made.
2. We’re looking for something analogous. This answer is like the virus learning to speak and saying “I did it! I altered the reproductive DNA!” It’s too definitive. (In the analogy, the copyist is the virus.)
3. Same as C. This is not at all analogous. The copyist, in the original, is the virus. One of the virus’ contemporaries (i.e. another virus) isn’t going to allege the virus made changes! For one things, viruses can’t speak.
4. This tells us nothing. There could have been many versions circulating in the playwright’s time.
5. CORRECT. This is exactly what we’re looking for. It’s a distinct pattern of vocabulary that suggest alterations were made in a later area.