LSAT 123 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q1

RC Question 1 Explanation

DISCUSSION: The passage is about the split in the US between prose and fiction. Rita Dove is an example used to illustrate the discussion. She is not the main point.

You can use this to eliminate answers A, B and D: those answers are mainly about Dove. It’s important to develop this kind of clarity in advance; it helps you more quickly sort through the answers.

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1. The passage was about US poetry/prose in general. This answer is too narrowly focussed on Dove. Also, Dove is acclaimed for her poetry as well as her fiction!
2. This only focusses on Dove’s poetry. Dove is also a fiction author! And the example of Dove was only used to illustrate how the US is moving away from separately analyzing poetry and prose.
3. This is close, but it too narrowly focusses on Dove. Lines 21-25 show that Dove is just part of a larger trend.
    
   Also, technically, lines 51-54 don’t say that Dove’s lyrical use of language has enhanced her fiction. They only say that the lyrical use of language gave Dove’s fiction the status of “lyrical narrative”.
    
   The author probably agrees that the works are enhanced because of this, but if this were the main point of the passage the author would spend more time elaborating on this.
4. This is false. Dove doesn’t obey the traditional separation of genres. But, she uses traditional poetic rhythms and narrative clusters. (i.e. she isn’t using experimental rhythms, or re-inventing narrative itself, etc. Using traditional techniques in a non-traditional way is nonetheless using those techniques.)
5. CORRECT. “The rigid separation” covers paragraphs 1 and 2. Rita Dove’s example covers paragraphs 3 and 4. And “Exemplifies” covers the crucial lines 21-25: Dove is just an example of a wider trend.