RC Drill Set 6, Question 12
Historian Philippe Ariès claimed that in medieval Europe(445 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(17 more words not shown)
- AMedieval documents contain(16 more words not shown)
- BThe children of(22 more words not shown)
- CImpoverished parents left(25 more words not shown)
- DThe details of(26 more words not shown)
- EParents in the(21 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
Shahar argues that medieval people both recognized childhood and cared about children. Support for either claim can help her; it doesn't have to prove childhood looked like it does today.
What we’re looking for
We need the least support. The choices are new information we're asked to accept as true, so we'll judge what each does to her reasoning rather than demand that it already appear in the text.
Working the answers
- A
These resemble the miracle stories the writer treats as significant. Stories centered on rescuing infants provide some evidence that children were valued, whether or not the miracles actually occurred.
- B
Gradually increasing responsibilities before marriage supports a childhood stage distinct from adulthood. It also extends the evidence beyond the wealthier boys discussed earlier.
- C
The parents act because they expect better care for their children. That supports concern rather than indifference, even though leaving children elsewhere could initially look uncaring.
- DCorrect
Shahar uses saints' childhood accounts as evidence of parental attitudes. This says those details were invented and “did not reflect the attitudes of parents in the Middle Ages,” breaking that evidentiary link.
The second part matters: fiction can sometimes reveal attitudes. Here the answer expressly denies that these details reflect the relevant attitudes, so they can't support her claim in the way proposed.
- E
Criticizing parents for failing to secure apprenticeships supports the social norm Shahar identifies: placement was a way to provide children with a future. It helps explain the practice as concern, not a desire to be rid of them.
More Application questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Application questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.