Reading ComprehensionDifficulty: Easy

PT129 S4 P4 Q21 Explanation

Fractal Geometry

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Reading Comprehension question.

TopicsMeaning in ContextScience

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Passage

Fractal geometry is a mathematical theory devoted to the study of complex shapes called fractals. Although an exact definition of fractals has not been established, fractals commonly exhibit the property of self-similarity: the reiteration of irregular details or patterns at progressively smaller scales so that each part, when magnified, looks basically like and then the process is repeated indefinitely on the segments at each stage of the construction.

Self-similarity is built into the construction process by treating segments at each stage the same way as the original segment was treated. Since the rules for getting from one stage to another are fully explicit and always the same, images of successive stages of the process can be generated by computer. Theoretically, illustrates a major attraction of fractal geometry: simple processes can be responsible for incredibly complex patterns.

A worldwide public has become captivated by fractal geometry after viewing astonishing computer-generated images of fractals; enthusiastic practitioners in the field of fractal geometry consider it a new language for describing complex natural and mathematical forms. They anticipate that fractal geometry's significance will rival that of calculus and expect that proficiency in in mathematics only if it becomes a precise language supporting a system of theorems and proofs.

What this question is testing

Meaning in Context

Your task

Pin down exactly what the question asks about the passage — a detail, the author's view, the structure, or the main point — before looking at the choices.

Common trap

Answers that restate a true detail from the passage but don't answer the specific question being asked.

Winning move

Anticipate the answer in your own words from the passage, then find the choice that matches that prediction.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
21.

Which one of the following is closest to the meaning of the phrase “fully explicit” as used in

Answer choices

  1. Unrelated to Goal5% picked this

    illustrated by an

    We can try substituting this in and it doesn't make any sense: Since the rules for getting from one stage to another are illustrated by an example, images of successive stages can be generated by computer. We were looking for something like "clear / precise".

  2. Weak Match9% picked this

    We can try substituting this in and it might seem to make some sense. Since the rules for getting from one stage to another are uncomplicated, images of successive stages can be generated by computer. The more uncomplicated the rules, the easier it would be to program a computer to do something, so that makes some sense. And the rules of the Koch curve didn't seem too complicated. For it being a description of how a fractal is built, we might have been impressed that we were able to follow the instructions in paragraph 1! But maybe other people thought the rules did sound complicated. How do we know whether the rules of the Koch curve for complicated or simple? And since the passage is saying that computers can generate images of other fractals, too, should we really be anchoring this sentence to what we know about the rules for the Koch curve? This sentence seems like a more general statement about how computers can generate images of a fractals because it can keep applying the same rules at any stage of the design (whether the rules are simple or complicated). This answer is worth keeping on a first pass, but when we compare it to (C), there is stronger logic to thinking, "In order for a computer to generate successive stages, the rules for getting from one stage to another must be .... clear vs. must be ... simple." A computer doesn't need simple rules, but it does need clear, unambiguous rules.

  3. Correct81% picked this

    expressed

    Why this is right

    The author is stressing how a computer could understand the logic of how to build a fractal. To go from one stage to the next, you always follow the same rules, and the rules are very clear ... they are fully explicit ... they contain no ambiguity. If you want to feel this usage in a more everyday sense, pretend your friend has a crush on Melanie and wants you to go with him to her party. You're wondering if he was really invited to her party. "are you sure she wants you to come? I've seen you interpret really ambiguous things Melanie says as though they're expressing interest in your company." "Yes, yes, I'm totally sure. There was no ambiguity. She was fully explicit and said 'I want you to come to my party'. And you can bring your dorky friend." In order for a computer to be able to model each successive stage of design, it needs clear, explicit rules.

    Skill tested: Meaning in Context · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

  4. Unrelated to Goal1% picked this

    in need of lengthy

    We can try substituting this in and it doesn't make any sense: Since the rules for getting from one stage to another are in need of lengthy computation, images of successive stages can be generated by computer. There's no causal common sense that says, "Rule that are in need of lengthy computation mean that a computer can generate successive stages." Yes, a computer might be the tool we need to handle something that involves lengthy computation, but we'd say "Since this stuff takes a while to compute, we need a computer to generate images", not "Since this stuff takes a while to computer, images can be generated by computer". We want a trait that is conducive to being modeled on a computer.

  5. Unrelated to Goal5% picked this

    agreed on by

    We can try substituting this in and it doesn't make any sense: Since the rules for getting from one stage to another are agreed on by all, images of successive stages can be generated by computer. We were looking for something like "clear / precise". There's no context to suggest that the reason a computer can generate successive stages is because "everyone voted and came to a consensus about it".

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