Q16

[romanmuffin]

Chose the right answer, but looking at it again, I can't see why D is wrong. Is it too general a statement to be made at the end of a paragraph which details specifics?

[hwsitgoing]

I second this question!

[hwsitgoing]

Ideas anyone?? : )

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Happy to help. Notice how similar the two answer choices are. In fact they both begin with identical language. When this happens focus on the difference between the two choices and then seek to confirm or deny the distinction.

The strongest difference that presents itself between answer choices (D) and (E) is that the former suggests that the historical sociologists have chosen to ignore certain issues. One cannot say that these sociologists have chose to ignore anything. We can say that they may not have the complete picture, but that's not the same thing. Answer choice (E) however, says that the sociologists do not have the complete picture by suggesting that by adhering to Abram's structure, the sociologists will be able to better portray the complex connections.

Simply put, answer choice (D) accuses the sociologists of something that the author never suggests.

While we're at it, let's look at the remaining answer choices (A), (B), and (C). Notice that each of them suggests that Abram's structure is a required condition. The words "only if" and "unless" suggest that there is no other way to accomplish this understanding and the passage does not provide language that would support suggesting that Abram's structure is a required condition.

Hope that helps!