LSAT 154 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Although early jazz music featuerd a great deal of improvisation…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: Later “jazz” isn’t jazz: it strays too far from the melody during improvisation.

REASONING: Early jazz didn’t stray too far from the melody.

ANALYSIS: This argument assumes that the amount of improvisation is the most important or even only factor in deciding what is jazz. But consider this parallel argument:

“While a child, Robert Stanley never went into an office and performed paperwork. Yet this adult human who calls himself “Robert Stanley” frequently goes into an office to do paperwork. Clearly, this cannot be the same human”.

Some things change over time, but are still the same thing in important ways. Jazz could have evolved while still remaining jazz, just as a child grows up into an adult and does different things.

___________

1. This is too vague. “Some amount” could be a very tiny amount. The author may agree that some amount is needed, but too much is too far.
2. This doesn’t mean it’s still jazz. The Beatles were influenced by R and B, but their later music wasn’t merely R and B. The Beatles had developed a new style of music. Likewise, this new music might be jazz, or it might not be. A piece of music can be in the same genre as music which influenced it, or a different genre, there’s no necessary relation.
3. “Some” can mean one person. And if a jazz musician later performs death metal, does that make death metal jazz? It’s the style of music that determines what kind of music it is.
4. This strengthens the argument. It suggests the music in question could be some other type of music.
5. CORRECT. If this is true, it seriously calls the argument into question. The author focussed on one difference: there is more improvisation in new jazz. But according to this answer there are many similarities. It’s possible the degree of improvisation is not the most important feature.

Recap: The question begins with “Although early jazz music featuerd a great deal of improvisation”. It is a Weaken question. Learn more about LSAT Weaken questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.