LSAT Explanation PT 19, S2, Q17: People cannot devote themselves to the
LSAT Question Stem
The argument is structured to lead to the conclusion that
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is a Main Conclusion question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is C.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
This LSAT problem is a Main Conclusion question type, which asks us to identify the conclusion that the argument is structured to lead to. The passage discusses the relationship between leisure, plentiful resources, and the study of natural processes, specifically in the context of early societies that domesticated plants.
Let's examine each answer choice:
Answer choice (A): This choice reverses the conditional relationship presented in the passage. While it's true that the study of natural processes requires plentiful resources, having plentiful resources doesn't guarantee that members of a society will devote themselves to the study of natural processes. Plentiful resources are necessary but not sufficient for the study of natural processes. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The passage doesn't provide evidence to support the claim that theoretical knowledge of plant generation and growth is a necessary condition for cultivating plants. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer. The passage states that early societies studied natural processes, which requires leisure. Since leisure requires plentiful resources, it can be inferred that agriculture first began in societies that had plentiful resources at some point in their history.
Answer choice (D): The passage doesn't compare agricultural and nonagricultural societies, so there's no evidence to support the conclusion that early agricultural societies knew more about natural sciences than early nonagricultural societies. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): The passage explicitly states that the complex discoveries related to plant cultivation were the result of active study of natural processes, making it unlikely that early societies discovered plant cultivation by accident. If this were true, the author's argument would be weakened. This answer choice is incorrect.
In conclusion, the correct answer is (C): agriculture first began in societies that at some time in their history had plentiful resources.