Logical Reasoning

PT114 · S4 · Q25 One reason why European music

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

  • Save & drill this skill build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

One reason why European music has had such a strong influence throughout the world, and why it is a sophisticated achievement, is that over time the original function of the music—whether ritual, dance, or worship—gradually became an aspect of its style, not its defining force.

Statements

The fact that the original function of European music (be it ritual, dance, or worship) eventually became part of that music's style, not its defining force, is part of why it's hard a strong influence globally and why it's a sophisticated achievement.

The music could stand apart from its original function because each composition had so much internal coherence that the music depends on nothing but itself.

Evaluate

When we're doing Must Be False, we're looking for an answer choice that contradicts what we know. Generally, that will take the form of contradicting a strong/conditional idea we were given, or it will contradict some inference we could have made by combining the available claims.

In this case the 2nd sentence seems like an elaboration of the 1st, so it doesn't look like we get a good inference by combining them.

But the last claim jumps out to me as the strongest / most conditional -- European music depends on nothing but itself.

Goal

Look for something that contradicts either the causal relationships revealed in the first sentence, or the very strong final claim.

25.

The claims made above are compatible with each of the following EXCEPT:

  1. African music has had a

    Compatible

    Nothing in here talks about how much impact European music has had in comparison to music from other cultures. We know that Euro music has had "such a strong influence throughout the world", but that still leaves open the possibility that African music has had an even stronger influence.

    10% picked this

  2. European military and economic expansionism

    Compatible

    The causal factor for European music's global influence that's identified in the first sentence is only labeled as "one reason" European music has a global influence, so it doesn't contradict anything to say that other stuff (militarism) has also played a part.

    5% picked this

  3. The original functions of many

    Compatible

    We know nothing about Chinese music, so there's no way we could contradict anything about it.

    2% picked this

  4. Correct

    Music that is unintelligible when

    Why this is right

    The first sentence identifies a causal relationship between "original function not a defining force" and "sophisticated achievement". It said that because European music turned its original function into style, not defining force, it is a sophisticated achievement. Dance music can stand independent of dance. Religious music can stand independent of religious music. The music has so much internal coherence that it depends on no frame of reference to get it. And that's one reason why European music is a sophisticated achievement. This answer is saying, "Music that can only be understood in relation to its original function tends to be the most sophisticated music", which contradicts the causal relationship we were told. It's as if the passage said, "One reason why Matt's students do so well on LSAT is that they put in many hours of practice.", and then this correct answer choice said, "Students who spend almost no time practicing for the LSAT tend to be the ones who do most well on the LSAT".

    Skill tested: Must be False · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    62% picked this

  5. Some works of art lose

    Compatible

    Nothing in the paragraph dealt with maintaining / losing appeal. We can't contradict something we didn't talk about. We dealt with strong global influence / sophisticated achievement / depends on nothing but itself. And the examples provided didn't involve works of art presented to serve a function other than their original one, just works of art that are no longer defined by their original function.

    20% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free