- Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:00 am
#34757
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14088)
The correct answer choice is (A)
The passage contains several claims that the author attributes to Marcuse, so it is inefficient to try to predict which of those claims the correct answer choice will test. Instead, eliminate answer choices that are inconsistent with the Marcusian view as presented by the author.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice because it is consistent with the claim in the first paragraph, attributed to Marcuse, that modern people believe themselves to be satisfied by satisfying the false needs created by advertising.
Answer choice (B): The passage says only that Marcuse thinks that “the consumer remains at some level unsatisfied.” (Line 25). This answer choice is incorrect because it fails to mention the role of advertising in meeting needs, making the answer choice overly broad. Even if this answer did relate to advertising, it would be too extreme, because Marcuse did not allege that advertising causes people to be unable to meet even their basic physical needs.
Answer choice (C): The statement in this answer choice presents an inference drawn by the author from the Marcusian view, not a claim attributed directly to Marcuse.
Answer choice (D): While the author did convey the Marcusian view of consumer oppression, that oppression resulted from the manipulation engineered by corporations, and did not have anything to do with totalitarian regimes.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect because Marcuse argued that advertising creates false needs, not that it derives secondary needs from basic human needs.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14088)
The correct answer choice is (A)
The passage contains several claims that the author attributes to Marcuse, so it is inefficient to try to predict which of those claims the correct answer choice will test. Instead, eliminate answer choices that are inconsistent with the Marcusian view as presented by the author.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice because it is consistent with the claim in the first paragraph, attributed to Marcuse, that modern people believe themselves to be satisfied by satisfying the false needs created by advertising.
Answer choice (B): The passage says only that Marcuse thinks that “the consumer remains at some level unsatisfied.” (Line 25). This answer choice is incorrect because it fails to mention the role of advertising in meeting needs, making the answer choice overly broad. Even if this answer did relate to advertising, it would be too extreme, because Marcuse did not allege that advertising causes people to be unable to meet even their basic physical needs.
Answer choice (C): The statement in this answer choice presents an inference drawn by the author from the Marcusian view, not a claim attributed directly to Marcuse.
Answer choice (D): While the author did convey the Marcusian view of consumer oppression, that oppression resulted from the manipulation engineered by corporations, and did not have anything to do with totalitarian regimes.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect because Marcuse argued that advertising creates false needs, not that it derives secondary needs from basic human needs.