RC Question 1 Explanation, by LSATHacks
DISCUSSION: To answer main point questions, you have to ask “why is the author telling me this?”. Pretend the author is a real person (they are!) and think about why they’re saying the things they do.
The author’s point is to convince us that perfumes can be great works of art. See lines 1-12, 37-44 and 44-45.
On main point questions, you can first eliminate answers that aren’t even true, according to the passage. Truth doesn’t guarantee an answer is correct, but it’s necessary.
I’ll note that I don’t prephrase main point answers. I have a general sense of what the author thinks, but there are always 1,001 ways you could phrase it. So I wait to see what answer matches my general sense.
___________
- This isn’t even true. Only paragraph 4 mentions corporations, and the author doesn’t say a kind word about them.
- This answer is only mentioned in lines 36-40. It’s true, but it’s hardly the main point. The purpose of the passage is that we should consider perfumes as art.
- The author’s argument is that perfumes should be taken seriously. They spend the passage asking why perfume isn’t take seriously. The fact that perfumes are under corporate control is one possible reason that perfumes are ignored, but the main point itself is that perfumes should be given respect.
- CORRECT. See the analysis above. The first paragraph sets the tone of the argument. The author is arguing that perfume deserves to be taken seriously.
- This is just evidence supporting the author’s argument that perfume should be taken seriously.
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Hey Graeme –
Why do you say that answer choice B isn’t necessarily true? it’s basically a paraphrased direct quote form line 36-40. I think i unequivocally must be true, given the statements in those lines – but I agree it’s not the main point, or at least, that the main point is better captured in D than B. B neglects to account for the author’s central contention that perfumes OUGHT to be given the same respect as other art forms, and that just ins’t clearly presented in B.
Your thoughts?
Oops. I just missed 36-40 when writing this. You’re completely right about that, and also why B is not the main point. Edited the answer, thanks.
In timed conditions I would have just skipped over B of course. I do use line references on main point questions, but only when I’m down to 1-2 answers and wondering if one answer actually contradicts the passage. Adding this last point not for you, but for anyone reading these comments and wondering what I do with answers like B in practice.