LSAT 146 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q19

RC Question 19 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Here, the passage cites line 10. When the passage gives a line reference, you should always look around it for context.

Here, the word “abstract” is first mentioned on line 5, so the full context can be seen from lines 5-10: “abstract” means that a sheep was represented by a circled cross, rather than by a picture of a sheep.

All of the wrong answers contradict lines 5-10.

___________

1. This contradicts lines 5-10. From those lines we can see that archaeologists understand which symbols mean “sheep” and “metal”, for example.
2. This contradicts lines 5-10. Sheep and metal are tangible concepts. (intangible = can’t be touched)
3. CORRECT. This matches lines 5-10. A cross with a circle represented sheep. And sheep don’t look like a cross with a circle!
4. Nonsense. Line 6 says some inscriptions refer to “sheep”. Sheep is a specific thing, not a general category.
5. Line 6 says some inscriptions represented “sheep” and “metal. Those words aren’t strictly ceremonial, and are used in daily speech.