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 Paul Marsh
PowerScore Staff
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#75300
Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is C.

The question asks us which statement the author would be most likely to agree with. For these kinds of Reading Comprehension questions, it's difficult to Pre-Phrase an exact answer. The best thing we can do before diving into the answer choices is just take a second to remind yourself of what the author's point of view is. Here, the author's view is that the free market regarding technological developments is beneficial to society, since it keeps competition and development up while keeping prices down, therefore allowing new game-changing tech to spread easily to the masses and improve quality of life. Our correct answer choice will probably not touch on all of that (otherwise it would be too easy!), but will likely be a statement that concerns one piece of that view. Having reminded ourselves of the author's view, we move on to the answer choices. For our correct answer, we want to be able to point to something specific in the passage for support.

Answer Choice (A): This answer choice contains the word "obsolescence", which may be unfamiliar to some. In the case of a new word on the LSAT, don't panic! Look at 1) context and 2) the root of the word. Here, the context alone probably doesn't give us a clear definition. But the root of the word seems very similar to "obsolete". Indeed, obsolescence means (from Merriam-Webster) "the process of becoming obsolete". Since there is nothing in this passage about technology becoming obsolete, the passage gives us no reason to believe the author would agree with (A).

Answer Choice (B): This is far too strong of an answer choice. The passage suggests that the author believes that a free market in the tech development industry is beneficial to society, but there is nothing to indicate that her views extend beyond that particular industry to the economy as a whole, much less something as extreme as (B).

Answer Choice (C): This is the correct answer. The author's second paragraph extols at length the benefits that widespread use of technology has brought to society. Specifically, she says, "Since printed materials have become widely available, however, people without special position or resources—and in numbers once thought impossible—can take literacy and the use of printed texts for granted." That bolded section provides strong support for the notion that the author would agree with Answer Choice (C).

Answer Choice (D): At no point in the passage does the author mention which piece of technology has had the relatively greater influence on the democratization of society.

Answer Choice (E): The author would likely disagree with this statement, at least in the tech development industry. The author's entire argument is that inequality of financial assets in that industry (with entrepreneurs and investors receiving the lion's share) is a good thing in the long run.
 sari.lerner16
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#59990
could you explain why C is correct? I did not feel like there was enough support for it.
 Brook Miscoski
PowerScore Staff
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#60000
Sari,

This question asks you to identify the answer that is consistent with the author's perspective. It could be a detail, or it could be high-level, so you have to be on the outlook for both.

In lines 14-26, the author explicitly supports answer choice (C). One of the examples the author uses to support his overall point is that the printing press and books increased literacy and the benefits of literacy, and as part of passage annotation, you should mark examples the author gives. That will help you identify answers like (C).
 Nicholas Noyes
  • Posts: 38
  • Joined: Feb 07, 2020
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#75269
Hi,

I understand why answer C is correct. Can you please explain why answer A is incorrect, I do not understand the wording of that question.

-Nick
 Paul Marsh
PowerScore Staff
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#75283
Hi Nicholas! Let's walk through this one. Please see the explanation I posted above. Hope that helps!

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