LSAT PrepTest 43 Section 1 Question 7 Explanation | Reading Comprehension

I didn't write the following blog post. It was already on the blog when I took over the URL. The following blog post may contain mistakes. -Steve

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Here's a Reading Comprehension question from the June 2004 LSAT.

Let's recall the paragraph summaries:

P 1: Situational/rhetorical factors explain most code-switching

P 2: Where, what, and who is in the conversation affects it

P 3: Sometimes code-switching done just for rhetoric's sake

Since this is basically any evidence question, we'll be sure to look back at the passage. The lines in question are the family's explanation for its unwitting code-switching. They say they do it for intimacy/emphasis or, in another words, for rhetorical reasons. The paragraph is about rhetoric as an explanation for code-switching, as the last summary shows. So, we can pre-phrase an answer here; the purpose of those lines (56-9) is to do something link "corroborate the author's assertion that code-switching is sometimes done for rhetorical reasons." We see that A fits this well, since it mentions rhetoric being a reason for code-switching and these lines as supporting that. Let's quickly go through the other choices:

A) Correct.

B) Out of scope. These lines talk about just one family and don't contrast them with other families or communities, so they aren't saying that reasons for code-switching vary between communities.

C) The opposite of what we want, since this choice says the lines conflict with the author's contention, while in reality they support it. Intimacy/humor, the reasons they give, are rhetorical ones. They use it to get their point across and better express themselves.

D) Out of scope. These lines don't address how often rhetorical or situational factors explain code-switching. They're only saying that in their case, rhetoric explains it. So, they aren't refuting (or confirming) a contention that situational factors explain most code-switching.

E) Out of scope because they only give a reason why the code-switched (rhetoric), not a reason why they didn't notice the code-switching. That rhetoric caused it doesn't explain why the code-switching was unconscious.

Remember:

1) On evidence questions, be sure to look back at the passage. As usual, a pre-phrase is helpful.

2) Get rid of choices that are beyond the scope of the lines the question's referencing (if the choice doesn't address what those lines do, that can't be the point of those lines) and choices that are the opposite of what we're looking for (in this case, choices that say the lines refute the author's view, rather than confirm it, which is what they really do).