#10 - Anthropologist: In an experiment, two groups of

[landphil]

Hi landphil,

You'll want to focus on the conclusion of the anthropologists. Was their conclusion about the development of language generally by Neanderthals? The conclusion drawn by the anthropologists is more specific. Based on the results of the experiment, the conclusion is that the Neanderthals would have been able to make the tools without language. That doesn't mean that they didn't have language. It means that the tools discovered would not have required language to make.

Answer choice (A) does not impact that conclusion. It would impact the likelihood that Neanderthals were able to use language, but not the likelihood that the tools themselves would have required language to make. It's weakening a different conclusion, so it's incorrect.

It can be tricky with these questions because you really have to focus on the specific conclusion of the argument. They give you evidence to try to push you toward a certain question. Did the Neanderthals have language? But the conclusion they draw isn't about if they did or did not. It's about if the evidence about toolmaking is enough to prove if the Neanderthals needed language to make their tools.

Hope that helps!

Ah, looking back this is quite clear. I seemed to have been duped back in December when I posted this. I think my improved LSAT brain can see this a lot easier now. Sorry for seeing this so late but thank you for your response. You are quite right!