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- Tue May 30, 2017 6:31 pm
#35525
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14304)
The correct answer choice is (B)
Passage Organization questions exemplify the value of understanding passage structure. This
particular question, however, requires that we identify the logical organization of the first paragraph
only, and as such resembles a Method of Reasoning question. Due to the highly abstract nature of
the terms used in each answer choice, you must think about argument structure, not content. Since
there are so many ways to describe the same argument, do not expect to see your exact prephrase
as the answer. One possible way to describe the first paragraph would be: the author remarks on the
relationship between music and literature, evaluates its relevance to the African American artistic
tradition, and provides a specific example of that relationship. This description is closest in meaning
to answer choice (B).
Answer choice (A): This answer choice can be eliminated relatively quickly, because the observation
about the African American artistic tradition only affirms the common claim about the arts; it is not a
denial of that claim.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The author begins with a general remark
about two art forms (music and literature), makes a similar observation about a particular artistic
tradition (the African American tradition), and comments on a particular work that exemplifies the
prior remarks (Toni Morrison’s Jazz).
Answer choice (C): Although the paragraph begins with a common claim about two art forms
(literature and music), it provides no specific evidence to support that claim. The remark about the
African American tradition is still a relatively general observation about the applicability of the
common claim to a particular artistic tradition. Furthermore, although relevant to Toni Morrison,
the observation that she drew upon the musical genre in Jazz cannot be properly described as an
“inference.”
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is two-thirds correct. However, Toni Morrison’s Jazz is not a
counterexample to the observation about literature and music. Quite the opposite, in fact, is true.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect, because the African American artistic tradition is
not a counterexample to the comments about literature and music; it bears out those comments.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14304)
The correct answer choice is (B)
Passage Organization questions exemplify the value of understanding passage structure. This
particular question, however, requires that we identify the logical organization of the first paragraph
only, and as such resembles a Method of Reasoning question. Due to the highly abstract nature of
the terms used in each answer choice, you must think about argument structure, not content. Since
there are so many ways to describe the same argument, do not expect to see your exact prephrase
as the answer. One possible way to describe the first paragraph would be: the author remarks on the
relationship between music and literature, evaluates its relevance to the African American artistic
tradition, and provides a specific example of that relationship. This description is closest in meaning
to answer choice (B).
Answer choice (A): This answer choice can be eliminated relatively quickly, because the observation
about the African American artistic tradition only affirms the common claim about the arts; it is not a
denial of that claim.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The author begins with a general remark
about two art forms (music and literature), makes a similar observation about a particular artistic
tradition (the African American tradition), and comments on a particular work that exemplifies the
prior remarks (Toni Morrison’s Jazz).
Answer choice (C): Although the paragraph begins with a common claim about two art forms
(literature and music), it provides no specific evidence to support that claim. The remark about the
African American tradition is still a relatively general observation about the applicability of the
common claim to a particular artistic tradition. Furthermore, although relevant to Toni Morrison,
the observation that she drew upon the musical genre in Jazz cannot be properly described as an
“inference.”
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is two-thirds correct. However, Toni Morrison’s Jazz is not a
counterexample to the observation about literature and music. Quite the opposite, in fact, is true.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect, because the African American artistic tradition is
not a counterexample to the comments about literature and music; it bears out those comments.