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- Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:58 am
#36730
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14619)
The correct answer choice is (D)
This reference is a negative aspect of reader-response theory however the author believes that it is far
outweighed by the positive aspects of this theory.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice is drawn from several different portions of the passage, none of
which is directly related to the phrase contained in the question stem. It is perhaps most closely linked
to the author’s claim that “any complicated literary work will invariably raise more questions than it
answers” (lines 35-37). However, that claim is based on the complexity of the literary work rather than
the application of reader-response theory and has nothing to do with the reference in line 51.
Answer choice (B): The best approach for specific reference questions is to find the reference indicated
and begin reading the passage approximately five lines prior to that reference. This will allow for a more
thorough understanding of the full context of the reference. The source for this answer choice is at least
within five lines of the specific reference. However, the longevity of reader-based interpretations is a
separate claim and has no direct link to the “unfairly burdened” literature of the past.
Answer choice (C): This is the best answer choice so far, but it is too extreme. The reference to literature
of the past as being unfairly burdened is not cited as a fundamental flaw of reader-response theory but an
occasional consequence. Furthermore, this reference is not intended to portray reader-response theory as
untenable.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. In the reference given, the author notes that
reader-response theory may lead to negative consequences in some cases, but immediately points
out that it has positive consequences as well. The author’s strong endorsement of the theory in the
concluding sentence of the passage reiterates the author’s belief that the benefits of reader-response
theory outweigh its potential weaknesses.
Answer choice (E): While the author writes that reader-response theory increases the probability of
varying interpretations, he does not classify these interpretations as fragmented views of a work. That
classification is attributed to formalists. More importantly, this idea is not supported by the reference
contained in line 51.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14619)
The correct answer choice is (D)
This reference is a negative aspect of reader-response theory however the author believes that it is far
outweighed by the positive aspects of this theory.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice is drawn from several different portions of the passage, none of
which is directly related to the phrase contained in the question stem. It is perhaps most closely linked
to the author’s claim that “any complicated literary work will invariably raise more questions than it
answers” (lines 35-37). However, that claim is based on the complexity of the literary work rather than
the application of reader-response theory and has nothing to do with the reference in line 51.
Answer choice (B): The best approach for specific reference questions is to find the reference indicated
and begin reading the passage approximately five lines prior to that reference. This will allow for a more
thorough understanding of the full context of the reference. The source for this answer choice is at least
within five lines of the specific reference. However, the longevity of reader-based interpretations is a
separate claim and has no direct link to the “unfairly burdened” literature of the past.
Answer choice (C): This is the best answer choice so far, but it is too extreme. The reference to literature
of the past as being unfairly burdened is not cited as a fundamental flaw of reader-response theory but an
occasional consequence. Furthermore, this reference is not intended to portray reader-response theory as
untenable.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. In the reference given, the author notes that
reader-response theory may lead to negative consequences in some cases, but immediately points
out that it has positive consequences as well. The author’s strong endorsement of the theory in the
concluding sentence of the passage reiterates the author’s belief that the benefits of reader-response
theory outweigh its potential weaknesses.
Answer choice (E): While the author writes that reader-response theory increases the probability of
varying interpretations, he does not classify these interpretations as fragmented views of a work. That
classification is attributed to formalists. More importantly, this idea is not supported by the reference
contained in line 51.