LSAT 150 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q25

LR Question 25 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Sociologists study folktales because they provide a means…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: Folktales apparently give insight into a culture, but they’re all adaptations of the same ancient narratives. How can they give that specific insight?

ANALYSIS: To resolve this paradox, we have to look at what’s different between the folktales in different cultures. There must be some differences in order to resolve the paradox, and these differences must give us that insight into the culture.

We know the narratives are the same, so it must be something in the way it’s adapted.

___________

1. Although this is true, it doesn’t resolve the paradox. Different cultures could get the same values from the same story.
2. This might show how the differences come about, but doesn’t tell us why the differences help.
3. CORRECT. This outlines the differences (adaptational changes) and tells us that these specific differences reveal information about the culture.
4. We don’t care why these narratives are still around. In fact, speaking to basic themes and features of the human condition doesn’t teach us about individual cultures.
5. This has the same issue as A. It tells us how folktales give is information, without showing how the information is specific to a given culture.

Recap: The question begins with “Sociologists study folktales because they provide a means”. It is a Paradox question. Learn how to master LSAT Paradox questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.