Q25

[didi0504]

Can you please explain what is wrong with A?

[giladedelman]

Thanks for your question!

The key with these synthesis questions (what's the author's main point, what's the primary purpose of the passage, the author is primarily concerned with, etc.) is that we need to be aware of the author's position, not just the material covered in the passage.

For example, this passage does talk about two different interpretations of a puzzling experiment, but the author's position isn't merely to "survey" them. No, in the final paragraph the author quite clearly argues for "a more compelling explanation." So the primary purpose is to affirm this particular explanation. That's why (D) is correct and (A) is incorrect.

Does that answer your question?

[LittleOne325]

but the author's position isn't merely to "survey" them. No, in the final paragraph the author quite clearly argues for "a more compelling explanation." So the primary purpose is to affirm this particular explanation. That's why (D) is correct and (A) is incorrect.

I also chose "A" initially. I understand the distinction gilad posted, but I think making that distinction depends on how one defines "survey" -- which I thought connoted critical analysis (and the author is indeed critically analyzing multiple interpretations) rather than just summarizing/overviewing something. I have seen the word "survey" appear in other answer choices on the LSAT also, so I want to make sure I am defining it correctly as used on the test. When "survey" appears in answers like this, do the LSAT writers intend it to be defined as "summarizing" or more like "critically analyzing"? Let me know if that doesn't make sense.

That said, I think I found another reason "A" is incorrect": the passage only offers one "existing interpretation" -- from "some theorists" in paragraph 3. The interpretation in paragraph 4 is presumably the author's own (because he didn't attribute it to anyone else) and therefore the author isn't "surveying existing interpretations" (plural) because only one existing interpretation is referenced.