A carved flint object depicting a stylized human head wi

Question

"A carved flint object depicting a stylized human head with an open mouth was found in a Stone Age tomb in Ireland. Some archaeologists believe that the object was a weapon-the head of a warrior's mace-but it is too small for that purpose. Because of its size and the fact that an open mouth symbolizes speaking, the object was probably the head of a speaking staff, a communal object passed around a small assembly to indicate who has the right to speak.

Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?

(A) The tomb in which the object was found did not contain any other objects that might have been weapons.

(B) Communal objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland."

(C) The object was carved with an artistry that was rare in Stone Age Ireland.

(D) The tomb in which the object was found was that of a politically prominent person.

(E) A speaking staff with a stone head is thought to symbolize a warrior's mace.

LSAT 73

GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

If we're asked which answer choice  would most weaken  the argument, the correct choice  does NOT have to disprove the argument . It simply has to create more doubt about the argument than every other answer choice.

You've identified the conclusion properly, including a key detail: the speaking staff is a communal object.

If (B) is true, then we normally wouldn't expect to see communal objects inside a tomb. Even if we expect to find a communal object in a tomb every now and then, this new information still weakens the conclusion, because it reduces the overall likelihood that this object was a communal object. That's is why we keep (B) around.

It seems like there's still a bit of doubt about choice (E), too. So let's take a look there, too:
 
Remember, the conclusion is that  this object is the head of a speaking staff . We're concerned with what the object is, not what it symbolizes.

For instance, what if I told you that a speaking staff with a stone head is thought to symbolize a puppy's tail? Does this mean that the object is actually the tail of a young dog? If I revealed that a speaking staff with a stone head is thought to symbolize everlasting joy, this does not mean that the object is joy.

Absolutely no information about what this object symbolizes changes the fact that  it remains the head of a speaking staff.  That's why we eliminate (E).

(B) is definitely the best answer choice available. I hope this helps!

raveesh1203 · Answer

Can anyone explain why b. I got the answer as E.

Posted from my mobile device

souvonik2k · Answer

Premise - A carved flint object depicting a stylized human head with an open mouth was found in a Stone Age tomb in Ireland. 
Some archaeologists believe that the object was a weapon-the head of a warrior's mace-but it is too small for that purpose.

Conclusion - the object was probably the head of a speaking staff, a communal object passed around a small assembly to indicate who has the right to speak.

(A) The tomb in which the object was found did not contain any other objects that might have been weapons. - Strengthens.

(B) Communal objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland." - HOLD.

(C) The object was carved with an artistry that was rare in Stone Age Ireland. - Irrelevant.

(D) The tomb in which the object was found was that of a politically prominent person. - Irrelevant.

(E) A speaking staff with a stone head  is thought to  symbolize a warrior's mace. - Strengthens.

Although B is the best of the lot by POE, but it doesn't weaken, since even though Communal objects were  normally  passed from one generation to the next, it can still be found in a tomb.
 GMATNinja ,  GMATNinjaTwo ,  VeritasKarishma ,  broall ,  nightblade354 , Can you please throw some light into this.

raveesh1203 · Answer

I think E actaully weakens it.

Object found --> could be warrior mace but small.

Conclusion: not warrior mace.So probably head of speaking staff.

E.Stone head --> a symbol of warrior mace .

Conclusion fails.

Posted from my mobile device

AshutoshB · Answer

Hi, I've one doubt that we have already been told that "communal object passed around a small assembly to indicate who has the right to speak" and option B just changing its definition, What I understood from " assembly" is an ongoing meeting or like parliament assembly, anything whose scope is limited to present time

But, if we think of a communal object as a something which passes from one generation to other , then Option B is right, as we have been told at the start of a premise that object is found in Tomb and our Conclusion is " Flint is a communal object, which passes from one generation or person to other" then what was the fun of kepting it in tomb  that's how it weakens the conclusion ( Flint is a communal object)

DiegoBravoTre · Answer

In my opinion:

The conclusion is that the object found indicates the right to speak of speaking staff. If (B) "these objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland" then the object should not be found there. So, this choice undermines the author conclusion.

As far as concerned to alternative (E), "a speaking staff with a stone head is thought to symbolize a warrior's mace": it is not the same to say "symbolize" than "identify", "is", or "signalized that it is". A speaking staff with a stone head could symbolize a warrior's mace, but IS NOT/DOES NOT IDENTIFY/DOES NOT SIGNALIZED THAT IT IS a warrior's mace.
Also, do not forget that wakeners make the conclusion more likely to follow  from the evidence . Letter (E) does not attack the conclusion, it attacks the premise.

TaN1213 · Answer

A carved flint object depicting a stylized human head with an open mouth was found in a Stone Age tomb in Ireland. Some archaeologists believe that the object was a weapon-the head of a warrior's mace-but it is too small for that purpose. Because of its size and the fact that an open mouth symbolizes speaking, the object was probably the head of a speaking staff, a communal object passed around a small assembly to indicate who has the right to speak.

Premise: the object is a communal object.
Weaken: If Communal objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland, then the flint object would not have been kept in the tomb.

--B--

Premise : the object is a communal object.
 Weaken : If Communal objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland, then the flint object would not have been kept in the tomb.

--B--

sandman13 · Answer

nightblade354 , could you help out with this question? Thanks.

nightblade354 · Answer

Here is the OE: https://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewtopic.php?t=6827
and: https://www.manhattanprep.com/lsat/foru ... t9166.html

I am attempting to not see any of the newer LSAT questions until I do the practice test containing them!

If this is still insufficient, I will take a crack at solving it.

GMATKnight2111 · Answer

Here is my thought:

- An object was found in a Stone Age tomb in Ireland.
- (Some believe) the object was a weapon-but it is too small for that purpose.
- The object was probably the head of a speaking staff - Why? Because of its size and the fact that an open mouth symbolizes speaking.

Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?

(A) The tomb in which the object was found did not contain any other objects that might have been weapons. - The tomb does not contain any weapon does not mean this object is not a weapon. => We can safely eliminate this option.

(B) Communal objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland. - I have no idea how this relate to the argument but I cannot explain so I put a hold on this fact.

(C) The object was carved with an artistry that was rare in Stone Age Ireland. - This piece of information is irrelevant because our discussion is about the function of the artifact. Let's eliminate this option.

(D) The tomb in which the object was found was that of a politically prominent person.Politician may possess weapon. We cannot conclude or reject any conclusion. OUT

(E) A speaking staff with a stone head is thought to symbolize a warrior's mace.Hmm, so..? How does this information relate to the argument. I think this pieces of information is irrelevant because the argument is all about the function of the staff not about how it looks.

AFTER THE POE, I take a review at option B. I try to rationale it as following: the staff is found in the tomb but option B tells me it is passed down over generations. Something is not right, though it is subtle. The staff should be found in another place rather than in the tomb. So B IS HIGHLY CORRECT.

I am not 100% sure but other options are eliminated so I am with B.
Please fix me if any process of my thinking is wrong

. Appreciate much.

RiyaJ0032 · Answer

hi  GMATNinja ,

not sure how B is weakening

the object can be used to pass down from one generation to the next while simultaneously could be passed around an assembly to indicate who has the right to speak

an object can have two uses

B does not say that if an object is a communal object, it will only be used for passing it down from one gen to next

hence overall I cannot say for certain B is a weakener

on the other hand when it comes to E, sure , if an object is thought to be X does not mean that object becomes X
 
but still it is weakening a bit, because the author dismisses the weapon as head of warrior's mace

but if E is true , then it does contradict the conclusion (not 100% but definitely to some extent)

E looked better than B

GMATNinja · Answer

(B) says that communal objects were normally passed from one generation to the next in Stone Age Ireland. That means that communal objects usually would NOT be found in tombs -- you would not bury an object that is meant to be passed on to the next generation. If the object in the tomb is in fact a speaking staff, then (E) suggests that the speaking staff might SYMBOLIZE a weapon. That doesn't hurt the argument. Sure, it might SYMBOLIZE a weapon, but it still IS a speaking staff. For more on (B) vs (E), check out this post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-carved-fli ... l#p2123393.

A carved flint object depicting a stylized human head wi

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