LSAT Explanation PT 37, S2, Q11: Mark: To convey an understanding of

LSAT Question Stem

Mark's and Carla's positions indicate that they disagree about the truth of which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Disagree question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In this LSAT problem, Mark and Carla are having a disagreement about the best way for historians to convey an understanding of past events. Mark believes that historians should try to capture the personal experiences of those involved in the events, while Carla argues that this approach would lead to a biased version of history and that historians should stick to general and objective characterizations of the past. The question type is a Point at Issue (Disagree) question, which means we need to find the answer choice that one speaker would agree with and the other would disagree with.

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) The purpose of writing history is to convey an understanding of past events.

Both Mark and Carla seem to agree with this statement, as their disagreement revolves around the method of achieving this purpose, not the purpose itself. Therefore, this answer choice is incorrect.

b) The participants in a battle are capable of having an objective understanding of the ramifications of the events in which they are participating.

Carla would likely disagree with this statement, as she believes that subjective perspectives would lead to a biased version of history. However, there is no evidence that Mark would agree with this statement. Mark values the subjective, personal experiences of those involved in historical events, but this does not necessarily mean he believes they have an objective understanding of the events. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) Historians can succeed in conveying a sense of the way events in the distant past seemed to someone who lived in a past time.

This answer choice is not relevant to the ethical disagreement between Mark and Carla. They are not arguing about whether historians can convey a subjective perspective, but rather whether doing so is valuable or not. It is possible that both speakers would agree that historians can succeed in conveying a subjective perspective of the past. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) Historians should aim to convey past events from the perspective of participants in those events.

This is the correct answer choice. Mark would agree with this statement, as he believes that capturing the personal experiences of those involved in historical events is important. Carla, on the other hand, would disagree, as she argues that historians should stick to objective characterizations of the past. This answer choice passes the Agree/Disagree test and is therefore correct.

e) Historians should use fictional episodes to supplement their accounts of past events if the documented record of those events is incomplete.

This answer choice is incorrect because neither Mark nor Carla discuss the use of fictional episodes in their arguments. The correct answer to a Point at Issue question must be based on the viewpoints stated in the passage, and this answer choice does not meet that requirement.