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- Sat Jul 01, 2017 12:34 pm
#36746
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14636)
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (E)
Since this question concerns the traditional sources of information for historiographers, the relevant
reference point, considering the organization of the passage, would be the first paragraph.
Answer choice (A): Since the passage offers no information as to the timing of the Chinese settlement
relative to the writing of the traditional sources of historiography, this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): No mention is made in the passage concerning Native American accounts, so we
cannot confidently confirm or deny this assertion. Since this is never stated in the passage, this answer
choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): While it does seem likely that traditional sources are concerned with potential
agricultural uses of the land, the author never specifies this, and certainly does not assert that this was a
primary concern.
Answer choice (D): Once again, the author does not indicate precisely an American-European explorer’s focus. The passage explicitly states that the Chinese were concerned with water sources, which should
not be confused with American-European concern. Furthermore, once again there is no evidence as to
the primary concern of any of the parties in the passage.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice, as it references the author’s explicit statements
in lines 8-14. Since historiographers have traditionally depended on the written records of European-
American explorers, it makes sense that, traditionally, the primary sources have been the accounts of
those explorers.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14636)
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (E)
Since this question concerns the traditional sources of information for historiographers, the relevant
reference point, considering the organization of the passage, would be the first paragraph.
Answer choice (A): Since the passage offers no information as to the timing of the Chinese settlement
relative to the writing of the traditional sources of historiography, this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): No mention is made in the passage concerning Native American accounts, so we
cannot confidently confirm or deny this assertion. Since this is never stated in the passage, this answer
choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): While it does seem likely that traditional sources are concerned with potential
agricultural uses of the land, the author never specifies this, and certainly does not assert that this was a
primary concern.
Answer choice (D): Once again, the author does not indicate precisely an American-European explorer’s focus. The passage explicitly states that the Chinese were concerned with water sources, which should
not be confused with American-European concern. Furthermore, once again there is no evidence as to
the primary concern of any of the parties in the passage.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice, as it references the author’s explicit statements
in lines 8-14. Since historiographers have traditionally depended on the written records of European-
American explorers, it makes sense that, traditionally, the primary sources have been the accounts of
those explorers.