Historian: The standard

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

TopicsMost Supported

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Stimulus

Historian: The standard "QWERTY" configuration of the keys on typewriters and computer keyboards was originally designed to be awkward and limit typing speed. This was because early typewriters would jam frequently if adjacent keys were struck in quick succession. Experiments have shown that keyboard configurations more efficient than QWERTY can double typing keyboard configuration prevent any configuration other than QWERTY from attaining widespread use.

What this question is testing

Most Supported

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

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 most strongly supported by the

Answer choices

Too Strong21% picked this
Most people who have tried typing with non QWERTY keyboards have typed significantly more quickly using those keyboards than they usually
The third statement supports the point that some people who have tried typing with non QWERTY keyboards can double their typing speed, but to say that this is true of most people who have tried non QWERTY keyboards goes too far.
21%
Contradiction11% picked this
Early QWERTY typewriters were less likely to jam than were at least some more recent typewriters if adjacent keys
The second statement indicates the opposite is more likely to be true.
11%
Speculation17% picked this
If the designers of early typewriters had foreseen the possibility that technology would make it possible for adjacent keyboard keys to be struck in
The statements do not indicate whether the designers would have done anything differently had they known the problem of jamming keys would would be solved.
17%
Contradiction4% picked this
The benefit to society that would result from switching to a keyboard configuration other than QWERTY is significantly greater than the overall
The fourth statement indicates the opposite is more likely to be true.
4%
Correct46% picked this
If the keyboard had been designed for computers, then it would not have been designed
Why this is right
The reason why the keyboard was designed to limit typing speed was to prevent typewriters from jamming, which would occur when adjacent keys were struck in quick succession. Since computers do not have keys that could jam, there’s no reason to suspect that keyboards would be designed to limit typing speed.
Skill tested: Most Supported · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
46%

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