#5 - Global Reference, Must Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (C).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):


This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[askuwheteau@protonmail.com]

Hello,

With a number of these reading comprehension questions, I have come across instances where I identified (on my own for practice) the category to which certain questions belong. By this I mean Global Reference, Concept Reference, & Specific Reference. This question (#5 from the Art & Tech passage) says it's a Global Reference type. However, I understood this question to be a Conceptual Reference type as the viewpoint of the proponents of the usage of new technology in the arts is only found in the first paragraph.

Please provide clarification as to why this question should be designated a Global Reference type question.

Thx,

Jonathan Sloan

[Dana D]

Hey Jonathan,

The biggest indicator that this is a global reference is the fact that the question asks "according to the passage" rather than according to specific lines within the text. New technology is referenced only in the first paragraph, however this is only a 2 paragraph passage, so another way of looking at it is that new technology is discussed in half the passage.

[askuwheteau@protonmail.com]

Thank you for the helpful explanation.

[askuwheteau@protonmail.com]

Good morning,

I went back and reviewed my RCB and its associated workbook as I’m attempting to find out how I can best recognize arguments in the VIEWSTAMP. I notice that in certain passages, the author’s viewpoint tends to be part of the argument (an argument defined as a strong position for or against a certain thing).

When diagramming reading passages I often don’t recognize that an argument is going on and instead just note down the viewpoint of the author (which ties into it). Any recommendations as to how I can improve here?

Thanks,

Jonathan

[Jeff Wren]

Hi Jonathan,

It looks from your question/comment like you may be confusing viewpoints and arguments. While the two concepts are related, they are not identical. Viewpoints refer to the different individuals or groups of people with different perspectives on an issue. For example, in this passage you have three viewpoints: the proponents of technology in art, the opponents of technology in art, and the author's viewpoint. (While the author's viewpoint largely overlaps with the proponents' viewpoint in this passage, it's still worth identifying and tracking both.)

You wrote, "(an argument defined as a strong position for or against a certain thing)." That may be what most people think of an argument in everyday life, but that is not the definition of an argument on the LSAT and not the definition given in any of PowerScore's materials, including "The Reading Comprehension Bible."

If you check the glossary in the RCB, you will see that an argument is "a set of statements wherein one statement is claimed to follow from or be derived from the others. An argument requires a conclusion." This is further explained in the RCB under the "Passage Argumentation" section of the VIEWSTAMP chapter. This definition of argument is the also same for the Logical Reasoning section.

In general, an argument includes at least one conclusion and at least one reason supporting the conclusion (i.e. a premise). The way that you identify arguments in RC passages is the same as how you identify them in LR stimuli. A good place to start is to memorize the lists of premises and conclusion indicator words and actively look for them whenever you read RC passages and LR stimuli. They are definitely helpful, but they aren't always used, so you can't simply rely on them. The deeper level of understanding requires you to examine whether someone is trying to make a point (a conclusion) and using reasons or support for that point (premises).