#9 - Parallel, Author’s Perspective

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14445)

The correct answer choice is (A)

This question asks us to identify a scenario that is most analogous to the role played by custommade
medical illustrations in personal injury cases. Although Parallel Reasoning questions are
far more common in Logical Reasoning than in Reading Comprehension, our approach will be
the same. Recall that in the fourth paragraph, the author describes custom-made illustrations as
“visual representations of data whose verbal description would be very complex” (lines 54-55). By
applying the Test of Abstraction, you will look for a scenario in which a visual device facilitates our
understanding of verbal communication.

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The schematic drawings accompanying
an engineer’s oral presentation function in the same way as custom-made medical illustrations do
when used alongside expert testimony. In both cases, the pictorial device helps “translate” technical
terminology into visual imagery.

Answer choice (B): Although road maps are visual devices that facilitate our ability to orient
ourselves, their purpose is to save us from having to ask for directions. The role of custom-made
medical illustrations, however, is to supplement expert testimony, not replace it altogether.

Answer choice (C): Using children’s drawings to detect wishes and anxieties not apparent in the
children’s behavior is not analogous to the use of custom-made medical illustrations. The purpose of
medical illustrations is not to detect or reveal hidden injuries, but rather to explain the nature of these injuries to judges and jurors.

Answer choice (D): Custom-made medical illustrations offer a unique visual representation of the
injury relevant to a particular case, not a reproduction of something famous or unique that is then
disseminated to a wider audience.

Answer choice (E): Since custom-made medical illustrations are designed to be objectively accurate
depictions of an injury that has already occurred, they clearly represent a finished product, not a
preliminary sketch.

[zoezoe6021]

I cannot find any info about custom-made medical illustrations accompanying verbal descroptions, so I failed to choose A.

Line 54-55 only states that it demonstrate data whose verbal description would be very complex. So I am confused.

[Luke Haqq]

Hi zoezoe6021!

You're looking at the right place for support for answer choice (A). The first sentence of the final paragraph states that custom-made medical illustrations "are especially valuable in that they provide visual representations of data whose verbal description would be very complex" (lines 53-55). In other words, that portion of the paragraph is saying that they can help represent what is being said verbally. That is to say, they can be useful in accompanying verbal descriptions.

There might also be some additional support around lines 26-29, which note that "such illustrations would be inadmissible as evidence in the courtroom unless a medical expert were present to testify to their accuracy." That doesn't seem to me to be as strong support as lines 53-55, but it at least suggests that the illustrations are accompanying verbal descriptions.

[lsatstudent99966]

Hi zoezoe6021!

You're looking at the right place for support for answer choice (A). The first sentence of the final paragraph states that custom-made medical illustrations "are especially valuable in that they provide visual representations of data whose verbal description would be very complex" (lines 53-55). In other words, that portion of the paragraph is saying that they can help represent what is being said verbally. That is to say, they can be useful in accompanying verbal descriptions.

There might also be some additional support around lines 26-29, which note that "such illustrations would be inadmissible as evidence in the courtroom unless a medical expert were present to testify to their accuracy." That doesn't seem to me to be as strong support as lines 53-55, but it at least suggests that the illustrations are accompanying verbal descriptions.

Hi Luke,

I really couldn't get my head around this question.

At first, I chose (A) because I know from outside knowledge that these medical illustrations must be presented with an expert opinion. But then I told myself not to use outside knowledge and ended up choosing (B).

I really can't convince myself, without using any outside knowledge, that the passage itself already strongly suggests that medical illustrations must be presented alongside expert testimony.

1. Lines 53-55:.

I also read these lines over and over again during my blind review, but I just couldn't convince myself that these lines tell us that medical illustrations will be used alongside medical testimony.

"medical illustrations. . .are especially valuable in that they provide visual representations of data whose verbal description would be very complex"

It seems to me that this is just saying that medical illustration can provide images of data that would be difficult to understand if described verbally.

But does this mean that medical illustration is used along with verbal description? Without any outside knowledge, I really don't think the passage makes this clear!

2. Lines 26-29.

I also feel like this isn't a strong support.

"[medical] illustrations would be inadmissible as evidence in the courtroom unless a medical expert were present to testify to their accuracy."

To me, this just means that we need an expert to testify that the medical illustrations could be admissible as evidence. Without any outside knowledge, I don't think the passage tells us whether the expert will stay in the courtroom and go into detail with some "complex verbal descriptions" of the injury for the judge and jury.

3. Lines 55-63 :.

I also consider lines 55-63 when blind reviewing.

The passage first tells us that it would be difficult for those not trained in the field to imagine what the expert testimony is saying. Then it proceeds to say "adequate understanding of physical data depends on thinking at least partly in visual terms." It seems like the passage is saying that the information would be more understandable if it were presented at least partially visually. But without using any outside knowledge, I still don't think the passage is clear on whether the visual presentation would be accompanied by verbal explanations from the expert.

Please let me know your thoughts on this! Many thanks!