Arguing that there was no trade between Europe and East Asia in the early Middle Ages because there are no written re...

pbushofsky April 12 at 06:50PM

Unclear correct answer phrasing

I know why C is the correct answer, but the lack of the phrase "the claim that..." at the start of the sentences makes it impossible to choose in good, logical conscience.

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Nate-Stein September 30 at 02:07PM

@pbushofsky, thank you for your comment.

I am not sure I follow what your inquiry is here -- answer choice C says "That trade between Europe and East Asia did not exist in the early Middle Ages cannot be established by..."

A phrase that starts with "that" is just a specific type of clause. In this case, it means the whole clause is a thing, watch:

"That trade between Europe and East Asia did not exist in the early Middle Ages"
^^This whole concept, the concept "that trade did not exist" ...
"...cannot be established simply by..."
is not established/proven BY
"...the absence of a certain sort of evidence that this trade existed..."
the LACK of evidence of its existence.

The LSAT is very often written in a very tricky way. Just keep practicing.

Hope that helps and happy studying,
Nate, LSATMax Instructor