LSAT 153 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Unlike other mechanical devices, the clock did not evolve…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

1. Early clocks were more complex than later clocks.
2. Early clocks were complex because they were actually primarily used to predict astronomical phenomena.
3. Later clocks began to focus more on timekeeping than astronomical functions.

ANALYSIS: We are given a comparison between different eras of clocks. Early clocks served more astrological functions than more recent clocks, and are more complex. It’s hard to deduce more information here, so we should look at the answers and find something that is most supported.

___________

1. We know the astronomical functions diminished in more recent clocks, but that’s not enough to conclude that they were eliminated altogether.
2. This answer isn’t talking about modern clocks at all! “More recent mechanisms used for this function” is referring to modern devices that are used to predict astronomical phenomena. The passage never told us anything about those.
3. We don’t know enough about “clocks used only for keeping time” to make this conclusion.
4. CORRECT. We know that early clocks are more complex than modern clocks. We also know that the early clocks were actually made to predict astronomical phenomena, while modern clocks are made primarily to tell time. So making those predictions back then must have been more complicated than telling time now.
5. We don’t know anything about interest in predicting astrological phenomena. We know that the timekeeping function became more important, but this could be for other reasons, such as an increase in timekeeping interest.

Recap: The question begins with “Unlike other mechanical devices, the clock did not evolve”. It is a Most Strongly Supported question. Learn how to master LSAT MSS questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.