LSAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions

In recent years biology has undergone a revolution that has attracted wide attention. Controversy
centered initially on whether genetic cloning techniques could create new, possibly dangerous forms of
life. Attention next focused on the power of genetic engineering to produce valuable new medical and
agricultural products. Largely overlooked, however are developments that will ultimately have far greater
social impact: the ability to analyze genetic information will allow the prediction of human traits.

While some fear that by analyzing the entire library of human gene sequences we will discover the
essence of humanity, this is unlikely. Our bodies are complex networks of interacting components,
influenced by a variable environment. Nevertheless, genes do help determine aspects of human form and
function. Herein lie the seeds of future problems.

By about the year 2010, barring unforeseen technical obstacles, scientists will have fully mapped the
complex human genetic terrain. Before this, however, new information will make possible techniques that
will engender a host of ethical issues. Imagine that investors could predict with some accuracy such
aspectso f human behavior or functioning as intelligence, shyness, aggressiveness, or heat tolerance.
Consider the power this would give to some and the vulnerable position in which it would put others.

Even if society can anticipate and control most misuse of genetic data, we face a more insidious problem:
a rising ethic of genetic determinism. For the past century, ideological currents have closely affected the
nature versus nurture debate. Widespread rejection of social Darwinism and institutionalized racism has
buoyed the strong nurturist sentiments of the past half century, but a growing proportion of the public,
impressed by the successes of genetics, is likely to come to view genes as determinants of the human
condition. Such an uncritical embrace of genetics is likely to come to view genes as determinants of the
human condition. Such an uncritical embrace of genetics will not be deterred by scientists reminders that
the powers of genetic predictions are limited. Environmental variations can cause genetically similar
individuals to develop in dramatically different ways, and genetics will at best suggest only a probability of
development for complex traits, such as those involved in behavior and cognition. Those overlooking this
will disastrously misjudge individual ability.

What a tragedy this would be. We Americans have viewed our roots as interesting historical relics, hardly
as rigid molds dictating all that we are and will be. Moreover, a belief that each of us is responsible for our
own behavior has woven our social fabric. Yet in coming years we will hear increasingly from those
attributing bad behavior to inexorable biological forces. As a biologists, I find this a bitter prospect. The
biological revolution of the past decades will spawn enormous benefit, but we will pay a price unless we
craft an ethic that cherishes our spontaneity, unpredictability, and individual uniqueness.

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Question 1

The author suggests that an uncritical embrace (line 42) of advances in genetics
will tend to
A. Obscure the degree of complexity of many human traits
B. Diminish the publics ability to halt illicit use of genetic data
C. Further the chance that genetic cloning may lead to hazardous life forms
D. Enlarge the magnitude of technical problems occurring in genetic studies
E. Increase the potential for negligence on the part of genetics

Answers & Explanations

A
Choice A recognizes that you have to read forward from line 42 to understand the
context here, all the way to line 50: Those overlooking the fact that genetic
predictability is limited will misjudge individual ability, a sentiment that A
echoes.

Illicit in B probably refers to paragraph 3s hints about sinister abuses of power

this is a long way from line 42. So is C, which hearkens back to line 3-5.

What genetic advances will enlarge D is the magnitude of ethical issues (lines 23-
25), not technical problems.

No reference to scientists negligence E is made. On the contrary, the author

assumes that scientists will be diligent in warning us of the limited power of genetic
prediction (lines 42-45).

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Question 2

Which one of the following predictions about the biological revolution discussed in the
passage would the author be most likely to agree?

A. The revolution will lead to gross injustices in society

B. The revolution will bring greater good than harm to society
C. The revolution will not be as far-reaching as some believe
D. The revolution will lead to needless anxiety on the part of the public
E. The revolution will be problematic as well as beneficial

Answers & Explanations

This is a flat-out paraphrase of the final sentence: a lot of good is likely, a lot of bad
is possible, in this biological revolution.

A ignores the hypothetical nature of the whole discussion. These could be problems,
says the author. The passage is a warning, not an apocalyptic prediction.

On the other hand, the other choices are either too sunny B or coolly unconcerned C
and D.

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Question 3

The author mentions the nature versus nurture debate primarily in order to

A. Demonstrate the difficultly of predicting and preventing misuse of scientific

data
B. Supply a point of reference for an assessment of the validity of recent
advances in genetics
C. Cast doubt on the moral integrity of society
D. Illustrate that political interests have largely determined public interpretations
of scientific issues
E. Point out a distinction between scientific conclusions based on facts and those
based on assumptions

Answers & Explanations

D

Political interests is a synonym for the ideological currents (lines 34-35) that
have dominated nature/nurture, the context for the authors fears about how the
public may seize upon genetic advances to societys detriment.

A contradicts the sentiments that begin paragraph 4. Nature/nurture occurs after the
author has shifted away from the use and misuse of data.

Bs validity is an impressive scientific buzzword that has no relevance to anything

in the passage. The same can be said for the facts/assumptions distinction in E.

C is tempting, since it suggests a plausible reason (moral failure) why the public
might embrace genetic determinism, but a more likely reason is cited at line 40. In
any case, nature/nurture is defined as a debate, not as a sign of moral weakness per
se.

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