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655-705 Level|   Long Passage|   Science|      
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 08 May 2024, 22:03
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6. The passage most strongly suggests that the author would agree with which one of the following statements?
Can someone give explanation to this question? I think E) looks like an appropriate answer choice considering the author has mentioned it to be a speculative theory
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 10 May 2024, 00:30
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dakshaduke
6. The passage most strongly suggests that the author would agree with which one of the following statements?
Can someone give explanation to this question? I think E) looks like an appropriate answer choice considering the author has mentioned it to be a speculative theory
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­The passage discusses Steele and his colleagues' speculative hypothesis regarding Lamarckian heredity in the immune system. However, it also mentions that they have found circumstantial evidence to support their claims. Therefore, the passage does not strongly suggest that all speculative hypotheses should be disregarded as science. Hence, E is incorrect.
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a Updated on: 12 Jun 2024, 00:01
Originally posted by arkaja11 on 03 Jun 2024, 13:13.
Last edited by arkaja11 on 12 Jun 2024, 00:01, edited 1 time in total.
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Question 6

Explaining question 6 to the best of my ability, as it has also relatively less accuracy:

(A) Contrary to the opinion of most modern biologists, certain acquired characteristics probably can be passed on from one generation to the next.

No. The passage presents Steele's claims as speculative and not widely accepted by the scientific community.

(B) Steele and his colleagues have not actually observed the process of reverse transcription in immune cells.

Likely correct. The passage states that evolutionary mechanisms are never observed directly and that Steele's theory is based on circumstantial evidence, suggesting that the process has not been directly observed.

(C) The patterns of mutations concentrated in particular areas of genes that carry instructions for immune system responses indicate that the DNA in these genes has been altered by a virus.

The passage mentions that Steele and his colleagues hypothesize this, but it also states that other biologists believe there may be less radical explanations for the mutation patterns. The author does not definitively endorse this hypothesis - "They believe a virus could carry the altered DNA to the reproductive cells and replace the DNA in those cells."

(D) The passing on of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next, if it occurs at all, is probably confined to the immune system.

No mention. The focus is on Steele's hypothesis regarding the immune system, but it does not suggest confinement to the immune system as a certain conclusion.

(E) Unless a hypothesis can be confirmed by direct observation, it should be regarded as speculation rather than as science.

Too strong. The passage acknowledges that evolutionary mechanisms are not directly observed and that Steele's claims are speculative, but it does not assert that unobserved hypotheses should be dismissed outright as not science.

Therefore, option (B) aligns most closely with the information provided in the passage.­
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 04 Jun 2024, 09:06
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RahulRajBasnet
OE For Q no.6?­
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­
Hope you had a look at mine solution.
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 11 Jun 2024, 22:37
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Sajjad1994 I got ques 6 incorrect - can you pls share explanation for the same?
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 28 Jun 2024, 15:01
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­Can someone please explain the answer to Q4?
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 14 Jul 2024, 09:06
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The best way to handle reading comprehension problems is to understand the purposes of each paragraph. Below is my summary of main ideas for each paragraph.

P1: Edward J. Steele is attempting to revive Lamarckism: he and his colleagues claim to have found evidence for a Lamarckian hereditary mechanism in the immune system.

P2: Some immune system cells contain genes that mutate with unusual frequency.

P3: Steele and his collegues believe a virus could carry the altered DNA to the reproductive cells and replace the DNA in those cells.

P4: Potential evidence of the mutation suggested by Steele, and skepticism from other bilogists for a circumstantial obersavation.


1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

(A) The long-drided Lamarckian theory that organisms can pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring has been proven correct by the discoveries of Steele and his colleagues regarding the immune system.
(B) Steele and his colleagues have devised an account of a mechanism by which acquired characteristics could be passed on to an organism's offspring, and they claim to have found evidence for the operation of this Larnarckian mechanism.
(C) Although Steele and his colleagues have succeeded in showing that changes that occur in the immune system can be passed on to offspring, it is unlikely that a similar mechanism operates elsewhere in the body.
(D) In contrast to the standard theory of evolution, the claims of Steele and his colleagues that organisms can pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring are highly speculative and rest on purely circumstantial evidence.
(E) By showing that RNA can revert back into DNA, Steele and his colleagues have removed the main obstacle to general acceptance of the Lainarckian hypothesis that organisms can pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring.

A. "been proven". Steele and his colleagues gave a possible account of Lamarckism, but it has not been proven. Out.
B. Correct. Read the above sumamry of ideas, and you will understand why B is correct.
C. As I said, Lamarckism has not been proven. Out.
D. Indeed, the author would agree the claims of Steele and his colleagues are speculative. But this is still not the main focus of the passage. The focus is on the truthfulness of Lamarckism. Also, the passage does not contast their claims to the standard theory of evolution. Additionally, the author says circumstantial evidence can be helpful in evaluating the truthfulness of the claims of Steele and his colleagues, but the author does not mention Steele and his colleagues purely relied on circumstantial evidence. Out.
E. Again, Lamarckism has not been proven. Out.


2. The author most likely calls a certain kind of mutation a "typo" (line 25) primarily in order to

(A) distinguish it from mutations that are adaptive
(B) characterize it as relatively inconsequential
(C) indicate that it is an instance of imperfect copying
(D) emphasize that it is easily overlooked
(E) suggest an analogy between scientific investigation and textual analysis

A, B, and D are aboviously wrong.

E is illogical. Read my summary of P2: Some immune system cells contain genes that mutate with unusual frequency. P2 Talks bout mutation, a hypothetical phenomenon, but E would suggest that "typo" is used to link textual analysis to scientific investigation. But what has "textual analysis" to do with the scientific investigation or mutation? So E is out.

6. The passage most strongly suggests that the author would agree with which one of the following statements?

(A) Contrary to the opinion of most modern biologists, certain acquired characteristics probably can be passed on from one generation to the next.
(B) Steele and his colleagues have not actually observed the process of reverse transcription in immune cells.
(C) The patterns of mutations concentrated in particular areas of genes that carry instructions for immune system responses indicate that the DNA in these genes has been altered by a virus.
(D) The passing on of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next, if it occurs at all, is probably confined to the immune system.
(E) Unless a hypothesis can be confirmed by direct observation, it should be regarded as speculation rather than as science.

A. Lamarckism has not been proven. The author is still uncertain. Out.
B. Correct. They only hypothesized it, not actually observe it. Besides, the author mentions "Evolutionary mechanisms are never observed directly, so we must make do with circumstantial evidence"
C. Lamarckism has not been proven. Out.
D. The passage mentions that the passing on of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next may have to do with the immune system. But this does not mean it is confined to the immue system.
E. never mentioned.­
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The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829) outlined a 12 Sep 2025, 00:39
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Sajjad1994
The French biologist Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck
(1744-1829) outlined a theory of evolutionary change
in 1809, 50 years before Darwin's On the Origin of
Species. Lamarck's basic idea was that organisms
(5) change in adapting to their environment and then pass
on to their offspring the new characteristics they have
acquired. Since then, Lamarck has been ridiculed for
presumably implying, for example, that giraffes
developed their long necks by stretching, generation
(10) after generation, toward the leaves of trees. Most
modem biologists are adamant that nothing of the
sort occurs, ever. But the molecular immunologist
Edward J. Steele is attempting to revive Lamarckism:
he and his colleagues claim to have found evidence
(15) for a Lamarckian hereditary mechanism in the
immune system.

The immune system is an evolutionary puzzle in
its own right: How is it that our bodies can quickly
respond to so many different kinds of attacks? Is all this
(20) information in the genes? If so, then how does our
immune system defend against new diseases? Part of
the answer comes from the fact that some immune
system cells contain genes that mutate with unusual
frequency. The most common type of mutation is a
(25) sort of genetic “typo" that occurs when a cell’s DNA
is transcribed into RNA, the molecule that helps to
assemble proteins. These mutations allow the immune
system to test our different defenses until it finds one
that does the job.

(30) Steele hypothesizes that the altered RNA then
reverts back into DNA. Indeed, such “reverse
transcription” of RNA back into DNA has been
observed frequently in other contexts. But the
troublesome question for Lamarckians is this: Could
(35) this new DNA then be carried to the reproductive
genes (in the sperm and egg cells), replace the original
DNA there, and so be passed on to an organism's
offspring? Steele and company believe this is possible,
and they have devised an elegant, but speculative,
(40) story to describe how it might happen using known
biological mechanisms. They believe a virus could
carry the altered DNA to the reproductive cells and
replace the DNA in those cells.

But even if the process Steele and his colleagues
(45) describe is possible, does it ever actually occur?
Evolutionary mechanisms are never observed directly,
so we must make do with circumstantial evidence.
Steele and his colleagues claim to have found such
evidence, namely a “signature” of past events that is
(50) “written all over” the genes that carry instructions for
immune system responses. They claim that a distinct
pattern of mutations concentrated in particular areas of
these genes “strongly suggests” that, in the past,
information has been transferred into DNA in the
(55) reproductive organs. Other biologists are not so
easily swayed. They suggest there may be other, less
radical explanations for the pattern of mutations that
Steele cites.

1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

(A) The long-drided Lamarckian theory that organisms can pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring has been proven correct by the discoveries of Steele and his colleagues regarding the immune system.
(B) Steele and his colleagues have devised an account of a mechanism by which acquired characteristics could be passed on to an organism's offspring, and they claim to have found evidence for the operation of this Larnarckian mechanism.
(C) Although Steele and his colleagues have succeeded in showing that changes that occur in the immune system can be passed on to offspring, it is unlikely that a similar mechanism operates elsewhere in the body.
(D) In contrast to the standard theory of evolution, the claims of Steele and his colleagues that organisms can pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring are highly speculative and rest on purely circumstantial evidence.
(E) By showing that RNA can revert back into DNA, Steele and his colleagues have removed the main obstacle to general acceptance of the Lainarckian hypothesis that organisms can pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring.


2. The author most likely calls a certain kind of mutation a "typo" (line 25) primarily in order to

(A) distinguish it from mutations that are adaptive
(B) characterize it as relatively inconsequential
(C) indicate that it is an instance of imperfect copying
(D) emphasize that it is easily overlooked
(E) suggest an analogy between scientific investigation and textual analysis


3. The passage most strongly suggests that the author has which one of the following attitudes toward the theory proposed by Steele and his colleagues?

(A) confidence in its truth
(B) indignation at its divergence from Darwinism
(C) distrust of its novelty
(D) doubt concerning its plausibility
(E) dismay at its lack of rigor


4. The passage is primarily concerned with

(A) offering a historical account of the development of an evolutionary theory
(B) describing the efforts of a modem biologist to vindicate a long-disregarded evolutionary theory
(C) answering a set of questions about the immune system in light of evolutionary theory
(D) evaluating the overall merits of an evolutionary theory that has been rejected by most modem biologists
(E) presenting a discredited evolutionary theory as a case study in the philosophy of science


5. What is the primary function of the last paragraph in the structure of the passage as a whole?

(A) to present various objections that have been raised against the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs
(B) to dismiss the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs as not being supported by evidence
(C) to explain how the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs could be revised to take new findings into account
(D) to suggest several possible directions for further research regarding the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs
(E) to indicate the nature of the evidence for the neo-Larnarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs


6. The passage most strongly suggests that the author would agree with which one of the following statements?

(A) Contrary to the opinion of most modern biologists, certain acquired characteristics probably can be passed on from one generation to the next.
(B) Steele and his colleagues have not actually observed the process of reverse transcription in immune cells.
(C) The patterns of mutations concentrated in particular areas of genes that carry instructions for immune system responses indicate that the DNA in these genes has been altered by a virus.
(D) The passing on of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next, if it occurs at all, is probably confined to the immune system.
(E) Unless a hypothesis can be confirmed by direct observation, it should be regarded as speculation rather than as science.


7. Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the position attributed to Steele and his colleagues in the passage?

(A) Scientists have succeeded in altering the 13NA in reproductive cells of laboratory mice by introducing a virus carrying new DNA.
(B) The patterns of mutations found in the genes that carry instructions for immune system responses are also found in genes in the nervous system.
(C) The process by which the immune system tests out the efficacy of cellular mutations is one of random trial and error.
(D) Fossil remains show that giraffes gradually evolved with increasingly long necks.
(E) It is known that birds can pass on acquired immunities to their gestating chicks via the yolk sacs in their eggs.


8. Suppose a scholar believes that the surviving text of a classical Greek play contains alterations introduced into the original text by a copyist from a later era. Which one of the following pieces of evidence bearing upon the authenticity of the surviving text is most analogous to the kind of evidence mentioned in the last paragraph of this passage?

(A) a copy of the original, unaltered text discovered in a manuscript independently known to date from the classical period
(B) a letter in which the copyist admits to having altered the original text in question
(C) an allegation by one of the copyist's contemporaries that the copyist altered the original text
(D) an account dating from the playwright's time of a performance of the play that quotes a version of the text that differs from the surviving version
(E) vocabulary in the surviving text that is typical of the later era and not found in other texts dating from the classical period


RC Butler 2023 - Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.
Passage # 33 Date: 23-Feb-2023
This question is a part of RC Butler 2023. Click here for Details


  • Source: LSAT Official PrepTest 77
  • Difficulty Level: 700
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1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

(B) Steele and his colleagues have devised an account of a mechanism by which acquired characteristics could be passed on to an organism's offspring, and they claim to have found evidence for the operation of this Larnarckian mechanism.
The passage centers on the work of Steele and his colleagues, detailing their hypothesis for a Lamarckian mechanism within the immune system. They propose a process where acquired genetic changes are carried to reproductive cells via a virus. The text explicitly states that their story is "speculative" but based on "known biological mechanisms". The passage also highlights their claim to have found "circumstantial evidence"—a specific pattern of mutations—that supports this mechanism. The passage does not claim that the theory has been proven correct, as option (A) suggests. It also doesn't limit the mechanism's application to just the immune system, as option (C) does, or suggest that the claims are in contrast to standard theory because they are speculative, as option (D) does. Finally, the passage does not state that reverse transcription is the "main obstacle" to the acceptance of Lamarckism, as option (E) claims; rather, it identifies the transfer of new DNA to reproductive genes as the "troublesome question."

[align=center]
2. The author most likely calls a certain kind of mutation a "typo" (line 25) primarily in order to

(A) distinguish it from mutations that are adaptive
(B) characterize it as relatively inconsequential
(C) indicate that it is an instance of imperfect copying
(D) emphasize that it is easily overlooked
(E) suggest an analogy between scientific investigation and textual analysis

The author most likely calls a certain kind of mutation a "typo" in order to (C) indicate that it is an instance of imperfect copying.
A typo is a mistake made while typing or writing. By using this term, the author is creating an analogy to explain that a genetic mutation is an error that occurs when a cell's DNA is being transcribed into RNA (lines 25-27). This analogy simplifies a complex biological process for the reader, portraying the mutation not as a deliberate or significant change, but as a simple, accidental copying mistake.[/align]

3. The passage most strongly suggests that the author has which one of the following attitudes toward the theory proposed by Steele and his colleagues?

(A) confidence in its truth
(B) indignation at its divergence from Darwinism
(C) distrust of its novelty
(D) doubt concerning its plausibility
(E) dismay at its lack of rigor

The passage most strongly suggests that the author has (D) doubt concerning its plausibility.
The author presents Steele's theory and its supporting evidence but immediately follows with language that casts doubt on its certainty. For example, the author describes the theory's story as "elegant, but speculative" (line 39) and asks the critical question, "does it ever actually occur?" (line 45). The passage also highlights that other biologists are "not so easily swayed" and offer "less radical explanations" (lines 55-57), which further reinforces the author's portrayal of the theory as unproven and subject to significant scientific skepticism.

"Distrust of its novelty" isn't the correct answer because the author's skepticism isn't based on the theory's newness itself, but rather on the lack of strong evidence to support it.

4. The passage is primarily concerned with

(A) offering a historical account of the development of an evolutionary theory
(B) describing the efforts of a modem biologist to vindicate a long-disregarded evolutionary theory
(C) answering a set of questions about the immune system in light of evolutionary theory
(D) evaluating the overall merits of an evolutionary theory that has been rejected by most modem biologists
(E) presenting a discredited evolutionary theory as a case study in the philosophy of science

The passage is primarily concerned with (B) describing the efforts of a modem biologist to vindicate a long-disregarded evolutionary theory.

  • The text opens by introducing Lamarck's theory, noting that it has been "ridiculed" and is a "long-disregarded" theory.
  • The majority of the passage then focuses on the work of Edward J. Steele, a "modem biologist" who is "attempting to revive Lamarckism."
  • The passage details Steele's specific hypothesis and the evidence he and his colleagues claim to have found, which is a direct description of his efforts to "vindicate" the theory.
While the passage touches on other elements like the history of Lamarckism and the immune system, its main purpose is to narrate and explain Steele's contemporary attempt to revive the theory.

5. What is the primary function of the last paragraph in the structure of the passage as a whole?

(A) to present various objections that have been raised against the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs
(B) to dismiss the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs as not being supported by evidence
(C) to explain how the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs could be revised to take new findings into account
(D) to suggest several possible directions for further research regarding the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs
(E) to indicate the nature of the evidence for the neo-Larnarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs

The primary function of the last paragraph is (E) to indicate the nature of the evidence for the neo-Lamarckian theory outlined in the preceding paragraphs.
The first two paragraphs introduce Lamarck and the immune system puzzle. The third paragraph details Steele's speculative mechanism. The last paragraph then shifts to the question of proof, explicitly stating, "Steele and his colleagues claim to have found such evidence." It then goes on to describe this evidence as a "signature" and a "distinct pattern of mutations," thereby explaining its nature. While the paragraph also mentions objections from other biologists, its main function is to present and describe the evidence that Steele and his colleagues have offered.

6. The passage most strongly suggests that the author would agree with which one of the following statements?

(A) Contrary to the opinion of most modern biologists, certain acquired characteristics probably can be passed on from one generation to the next.
(B) Steele and his colleagues have not actually observed the process of reverse transcription in immune cells.
(C) The patterns of mutations concentrated in particular areas of genes that carry instructions for immune system responses indicate that the DNA in these genes has been altered by a virus.
(D) The passing on of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next, if it occurs at all, is probably confined to the immune system.
(E) Unless a hypothesis can be confirmed by direct observation, it should be regarded as speculation rather than as science.

Based on the passage, the author would most strongly agree with (D) The passing on of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next, if it occurs at all, is probably confined to the immune system.
The passage focuses entirely on Steele's hypothesis within the immune system, presenting it as a solution to a specific evolutionary puzzle related to how our bodies quickly respond to new diseases. The author highlights the immune system's unique characteristic—that its cells "mutate with unusual frequency"—as a key part of the proposed mechanism. Because the passage provides no information about similar mechanisms in any other part of the body, and it specifically identifies the immune system's unique properties as central to the theory, the most logical conclusion is that if this type of inheritance happens, the author would see it as confined to this particular biological system. The phrase "if it occurs at all" is also consistent with the author's overall skeptical tone.

7. Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the position attributed to Steele and his colleagues in the passage?

(A) Scientists have succeeded in altering the 13NA in reproductive cells of laboratory mice by introducing a virus carrying new DNA.
(B) The patterns of mutations found in the genes that carry instructions for immune system responses are also found in genes in the nervous system.
(C) The process by which the immune system tests out the efficacy of cellular mutations is one of random trial and error.
(D) Fossil remains show that giraffes gradually evolved with increasingly long necks.
(E) It is known that birds can pass on acquired immunities to their gestating chicks via the yolk sacs in their eggs.

The correct answer is (A) Scientists have succeeded in altering the DNA in reproductive cells of laboratory mice by introducing a virus carrying new DNA.
Here's why:
Steele's most radical and speculative claim is that the newly created DNA in immune cells can be carried to the reproductive cells (sperm and egg) and replace the original DNA, allowing the new trait to be inherited. This is the "troublesome question" the passage highlights. If scientists could demonstrate this specific step—the viral transfer of new DNA into reproductive cells—it would provide powerful evidence that the central, most doubted part of Steele's elegant but speculative story is biologically possible. This would directly strengthen his position.

Why other options are incorrect:


  • (B) The patterns of mutations found in the genes that carry instructions for immune system responses are also found in genes in the nervous system. This would be interesting but doesn't support the core claim of inheritance. It only suggests the mutation pattern isn't unique to the immune system.
  • (C) The process by which the immune system tests out the efficacy of cellular mutations is one of random trial and error. This is already a widely accepted principle of how the immune system works and is consistent with Darwinian evolution at the cellular level. It doesn't strengthen the Lamarckian claim of inter-generational inheritance
  • (D) Fossil remains show that giraffes gradually evolved with increasingly long necks. This is a classic example of gradual evolution, but it is fully consistent with a Darwinian explanation (natural selection on existing genetic variations). It provides no evidence for a Lamarckian mechanism of acquired traits being inherited.
  • (E) It is known that birds can pass on acquired immunities to their gestating chicks via the yolk sacs in their eggs. This describes passive immunity—the transfer of antibodies, not genes. It's a temporary transfer of a pre-made defense and not a permanent genetic change passed down through generations. It does not support a Lamarckian mechanism of genetic inheritance.


8. Suppose a scholar believes that the surviving text of a classical Greek play contains alterations introduced into the original text by a copyist from a later era. Which one of the following pieces of evidence bearing upon the authenticity of the surviving text is most analogous to the kind of evidence mentioned in the last paragraph of this passage?

(A) a copy of the original, unaltered text discovered in a manuscript independently known to date from the classical period
(B) a letter in which the copyist admits to having altered the original text in question
(C) an allegation by one of the copyist's contemporaries that the copyist altered the original text
(D) an account dating from the playwright's time of a performance of the play that quotes a version of the text that differs from the surviving version
(E) vocabulary in the surviving text that is typical of the later era and not found in other texts dating from the classical period

The most analogous piece of evidence is (E) vocabulary in the surviving text that is typical of the later era and not found in other texts dating from the classical period.
Here's why:
The evidence mentioned in the passage's last paragraph is a "signature" — a distinct pattern of mutations within the genes that is interpreted as a sign of past events. This evidence is circumstantial, not a direct observation of the event. It's a trace left behind that strongly suggests a particular history, but it's open to alternative interpretations.
Similarly, the vocabulary described in option (E) is a trace or pattern within the surviving text. It doesn't directly prove that a copyist made an alteration, but the presence of vocabulary from a later era is a strong, circumstantial "signature" that points to the text having been altered at a later time. Just as other biologists suggest "less radical explanations" for the genetic patterns, a scholar might argue for other explanations for the vocabulary, but it remains a key piece of internal evidence.

Source: Google Gemini
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