#3 - Must Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14297)

Due to the general nature of this question, the method of elimination is likely to prove useful—any
answer choice that cannot be proven by the passage will be incorrect.

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The author clearly believes that the new
digital model of publishing will eventually replace traditional publishing (lines 22-25), requiring
traditional publishers to embrace the new model or else lose authors (lines 50-51). It is reasonable
to infer, therefore, that those publishers that fail to embrace the new digital model will be unlikely to
remain economically competitive.

Answer choice (B): This answer choice contains an exaggeration. Although the use of computers
and handheld devices is likely to compete with digital publishing, the author is convinced that digital
publishing will prevail because consumers would prefer to have their digital books printed and
bound on demand (lines 6-10). There is no evidence that the use of electronic devices represents the
“primary threat” to the spread of digital publishing.

Answer choice (C): The author makes no mention of whether the new model of digital publishing
will revitalize the book retail business. Although the retail business is likely to undergo a significant
transformation with the introduction of “on demand” printing and binding, there is no evidence that
this will revitalize it. This answer choice implies that the current state of the book retail business
is somewhat stagnant, which—though possibly true in the real world—was never discussed in the
passage. Make sure to stay away from answer choices that seem objectively true, but are not provable
by the information contained in the passage.

Answer choice (D): The author never compares the likely sales volume of digitally published books
to that of traditionally published books.

Answer choice (E): While the expense of printing, selling, distributing, and displaying physical
books will be eliminated, publishers still need to advertise their books. There is no reason to expect
that their advertising budget will suddenly decrease.

[balikbayan]

I just want to clarify more on E. Is it wrong because the passage doesn't go in depth about advertising costs? The reason why i chose this was because I understood that basically all costs would be eliminated since they are "irrelevant" to digital publication. So, wouldn't be advertising costs be a part of that? Or am I incorrectly adding information?

I am not sure if I am doing the right approach in this question . Reading comprehension is still one of my weaker areas.

[Adam Tyson]

You're right about why E is a bad answer, balikbayan. The passage tells us a lot of changing costs, but nothing about advertising costs. Publishers will likely still want to advertise their books, and the shift in how those books get into the hands of readers might not have any impact on advertising. We just can't know, based on this text. Will they still put ads in print media? Will they advertise the books online, or on the radio? Will they pay influencers to push their titles to their followers? Who knows?

You were indeed information to the passage regarding the elimination of costs. The passage lists some costs that will be eliminated: costs of warehousing, shipping books to wholesalers and to retail stores, displaying physical books in retail stores, and returning unsold books to publishers. But that doesn't mean ALL costs will be eliminated. Authors and agents will still need to be paid. Editors will still likely be involved, as will artists who design the covers and do any illustrations. Someone will be responsible for creating the layout of the test for when it is printed by a buyer. Someone will have to install and maintain the machines that print the books. Paper and binding materials will cost money. And advertising and marketing will likely still be a part of the business model.

Stick to the text, and don't make assumptions that go beyond what the text tells you, and you'll find that RC gets much easier. Think of the whole thing as being like a giant Must Be True question, where the answers follow from the facts given, and where outside information and extreme answers are almost always wrong.

[balikbayan]

got this thank you!