LSAT 108 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q7

LR Question 7 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The existing works of ancient literature …

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: The surviving ancient works aren’t the most original works produced in ancient times.

REASONING: The surviving works often refer to other works that have been lost.

ANALYSIS: Right now, the argument is pretty weak. It’s saying: Existing works mention lost works. So the lost works were probably more original.

That doesn’t follow by itself. A book can refer to another book without that other book being more original.

We need an answer that connects referring to other works and being less original than those other works.

The missing idea is that works that frequently refer to other works tend to be based on or borrowing from earlier works (derivative).

If the surviving works are derivative, then the earlier works they rely on are more likely to have been the original ones.

___________

1. CORRECT. If existing ancient works tend to be derivative, and derivative works usually aren’t the most original works, then the lost works were probably more original.
2. Saying nice things about the lost works doesn’t mean the lost works were more original. You can praise a work for lots of reasons.
3. Lots of texts being lost doesn’t tell us anything about whether the lost ones were the most original. Quantity ≠ originality.
4. The argument isn’t about suppression of subversive ideas.
5. This talks about modern ideas and ancient times generally. It doesn’t connect the surviving works to the lost works.