Passage Discussion

[rishisb]

Hello, Atlas:

Could you please help answer a question I have about Q 16 & 17 from Passage 3, the Platypus Passage. I ask these two questions b/c I think my questions are very interrelated.

Q16 asks for us to describe the "primary purpose" of the passge; and, Q17 asks us to tell what the "main idea" of the passage. I answered Q17 correctly (B), but I missed the question 16 when I selected answer choice A, which basically restated my answer choice in Q17.

I am wondering if you could please explain: (1) Why the answer to the "primary purpose" question here is NOT basically the same as the answer to the "main idea" question? and (2) What's the difference between the questions?

Thank you!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

That's great that you've noticed the fact that primary purpose questions and main point questions are highly related with each other and should fundamentally reflect each other.

The problem here is that in question 16, the test-writer has set up answer choice (A) to be the most tempting of the answer choices, yet still incorrect. Answer choice (A) is pretty good up until the last three words. The passage is about how the platypus uses it's bill to locate prey, but not "at a distance."

For question 16, answer choice (B) is a bit more abstract, but the passage does present some recent scientific research, and this research does explain the function of the platypus' bill.

Additionally, the passage is not just about how the platypus finds prey, but rather the passage is about the purpose of the platypus' bill. It just so happens that the purpose of the bill is to find prey.

Does that help clear up the issue with question 16? You're understanding of the relationship between the primary purpose and main point is accurate though.