LSAT sense of humor

[Trainwreck]

I've read a lot of LSAT questions now. Is it just me, or do they seem to have a sense of humor at times with this stuff?

[rmd]

I think it's just you.  But feel free to provide some examples (w/in the copyright restrictions) and try to convince me.

[Anne]

I remember one particularly humorous question involving the names of the planets. I'll leave it to you to guess which planet played a prominent role. 

[LSAT Eliminator]

I'd say there's no question that at times some of the stuff is written with a double meaning. The question Anne refers to is an old school question, where one of the answers reads something like, "...is as massive as Uranus."

[Wintermute]

I'd say there's no question that at times some of the stuff is written with a double meaning. The question Anne refers to is an old school question, where one of the answers reads something like, "...is as massive as Uranus."

Neither Neptune nor Pluto, sir. Answer choice C, IIRC.

There's also also a RC passage that mentions that a significant reduction in head is a bad thing.

[LSAT Eliminator]

There's also also a RC passage that mentions that a significant reduction in head is a bad thing.

Haha, I'd forgotten about that one! The Oil Pumps one, right?

[Trainwreck]

I'm glad I'm not the only one! It just seemed like every once in a while I got the feeling they were joking with some of the stuff they said.

What test is that Oil pumps question on? I want to go look at it.

[LSAT Eliminator]

It's the first passage on the February 1994 LSAT.

[peregrina]

I've never thought any of these questions were funny. Actually, I think the test makers probably think it's funny that they get to screw with us so bad. I'm still convinced that the test makers are evil people.
 

[LSAT Eliminator]

I've never thought any of these questions were funny. Actually, I think the test makers probably think it's funny that they get to screw with us so bad. I'm still convinced that the test makers are evil people.
 

I don't think they are evil. They have a tough job, and what must be at times a very boring job. If i was in their shoes I doubt I could resist a bit of subtle, non-score-affecting humor. Nothing wrong with an inside joke as long as i doesn't affect test integrity.

[rmd]

I'm going to stay with my original impression unless somebody can provide more and better examples.  And certainly not because I think the test developers are evil, humorless people.  On the contrary, because I respect them as intelligent, erudite people.  To believe that Bevis and Butthead-esque puns about "Uranus" and "head" are intentional attempts at humor would diminish them in my eyes.  You may be right but I hope not.

[LSAT Eliminator]

I'm going to stay with my original impression unless somebody can provide more and better examples.  And certainly not because I think the test developers are evil, humorless people.  On the contrary, because I respect them as intelligent, erudite people.  To believe that Bevis and Butthead-esque puns about "Uranus" and "head" are intentional attempts at humor would diminish them in my eyes.  You may be right but I hope not.

I'm not sure a high level of intelligence and an at-times randy sense of humor are mutually exclusive. But, here's the answer choice in full, so you tell me if this feels like an inside joke or not:

    "Neither Neptune nor Pluto is as massive as Uranus."

(Note to test security: I'm citing Fair Use laws for including this very small segment of an actual question )

That's just one well-known example. Having studied this test for a while, I've seen others too. I'm convinced they sometimes put jokes inside these questions, but it is not detrimental. I'm glad they do it, and it actually raises my opinion of them, but to each his own.

[Dr. Troy]

I've seen my fair share of questions that, while perhaps not side-splittingly funny, do contain at least some humorous/light-hearted content. One that comes to mind is about rewarding well-behaved inmates with free plastic surgery performed by medical students, presumably to boost prisoners' self esteem and to train future surgeons. That got a smile out of me when I first read it.

Again, it's not Mitch Hedberg, but relative to the usual boring, dense material on the LSAT I think it's safe to say the test makers do occasionally try to lighten the mood a bit.

[Anne]

I'm going to stay with my original impression unless somebody can provide more and better examples.  And certainly not because I think the test developers are evil, humorless people.  On the contrary, because I respect them as intelligent, erudite people.  To believe that Bevis and Butthead-esque puns about "Uranus" and "head" are intentional attempts at humor would diminish them in my eyes.  You may be right but I hope not.

I'm not sure a high level of intelligence and an at-times randy sense of humor are mutually exclusive. But, here's the answer choice in full, so you tell me if this feels like an inside joke or not:

    "Neither Neptune nor Pluto is as massive as Uranus."

(Note to test security: I'm citing Fair Use laws for including this very small segment of an actual question )

That's just one well-known example. Having studied this test for a while, I've seen others too. I'm convinced they sometimes put jokes inside these questions, but it is not detrimental. I'm glad they do it, and it actually raises my opinion of them, but to each his own.

Agreed. I tend to respect people (and institutions) more when they don't take themselves too seriously, and these mild "funnies" show a lighter side of the LSAT-writers that I enjoy. Also, if they didn't get a little loopy and goofy sometimes, I can only imagine they'd lose it every couple hundred questions or so.

[LSAT Eliminator]

I've seen my fair share of questions that, while perhaps not side-splittingly funny, do contain at least some humorous/light-hearted content. One that comes to mind is about rewarding well-behaved inmates with free plastic surgery performed by medical students, presumably to boost prisoners' self esteem and to train future surgeons. That got a smile out of me when I first read it.

Again, it's not Mitch Hedberg, but relative to the usual boring, dense material on the LSAT I think it's safe to say the test makers do occasionally try to lighten the mood a bit.

That's another great example. Thanks!