December 2017 LSAT
Section 2
Question 23
Which one of the following sequences most accurately expresses the organization of the passage?
Replies
Victoria on September 1, 2019
Hi @Ryan-Mahabir,B is incorrect. A is the correct answer for this question.
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zgnewquist on September 23, 2019
Could you please explain more the organization of the stimulus? ThanksSamA on September 28, 2019
Hello @zgnewquist,Before we look at the answer choices, lets do a brief summary of each paragraph.
Paragraph 1: The author introduces Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The author also introduces two different schools of thought regarding the application of Darwin's theory of evolution to human society. School 1: Like animals, humans evolve through competitive struggle and survival of the fittest. School 2: A type of evolution does occur, but it doesn't have to be competitive. People can work together to change society.
Paragraph 2: Gilman identifies with school two. Her group of Social Darwinists believe that humans can consciously evolve. Gilman believes humans do so through fulfilling work.
Paragraph 3: Gilman believes in an ethical responsibility to improve human society. She believed that ending gender roles and encouraging the contribution of women would do so.
Having read this summary, does A or B fit the passage better? A includes the two versions of Darwinism, Gilman's role in the second version, as well as the implications of the theory according to Gilman. This seems like the answer choice that most closely follows the organization of the passage.
There are a number of problems with answer choice B. First of all, the author contrasts the two versions of Darwinism before even mentioning Gilman's beliefs. The order is wrong. The author never rejects a theory in the passage. The passage doesn't really explain Gilman's beliefs "in general terms." Rather, the second half of the passage is a pretty specific account of Gilman's interpretation of Darwinism.