#6 - When machines are invented and technologies are

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Must Be True—PR. The correct answer choice is (A)
This stimulus opens with the general statement that new machines and technologies change the range of choices we have. The author then presents the example of the clock, which affected this range in both directions—productivity increased with the ability to synchronize as a result of this innovation, but on the other side people no longer have any choice, according to the author, but to live by the clock.

The question stem requires us to find the principle which is best illustrated by the stimulus. Thus the correct answer choice will likely reflect the idea that new machines and technology brings both good and bad.

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, aligned with our general prephrase above. Innovation can bring both good and bad: liberation and enslavement.

Answer choice (B): The author believes that people no longer have a choice in the matter, so this answer choice cannot be correct.

Answer choice (C): The only example provided is that of the clock, a new machine which brought both good and bad (according to the author). Since there is no reference to innovations which bring no improvement, this cannot be the principle reflected in this stimulus.

Answer choice (D): The author makes no value judgments regarding whether the cost outweighed the reward, so this is not the principle illustrated.

Answer choice (E): There is only a single example provided and no reference to the assertion that “most” new machines bring increased synchronicity and productivity.

[TZHUUMD22]

Hello Powerscore!

I chose D because the last sentence in the question stem points our our choices are robbed entirely by inventions like clocks which leave us no choice at all upon adopting the clock technology. Obviously there is a contrast of worthiness here.

How is colorful language like "enslave" and "liberate" logically aligned with some statements on choice restriction? This question does not seem like a typical LSAT question to me.

I would love to know how I am wrong in thinking this.

Thanks a lot!
T

[Paul Marsh]

Hi TZHUUMD22! Like the original post above states, (D) is incorrect because the author never makes a conclusion about whether the increase in productivity was worth our dependence on the clock.

You are correct that the language in (A) is colorful and a bit odd for the LSAT. Still, it is the only choice that expresses as a Principle what's happening in the stimulus. It is typical for the language of Principles answer choices on the LSAT to not match up precisely with the language of the stimulus; don't let this dissuade you as long as it accurately depicts what happened in the stimulus. Your focus on Principle questions should not be on the precise language, but rather if the Principle accomplishes what you want it to do.

Hope that helps!