Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT126 S1 Q12 Explanation

Critic: A novel cannot

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

Critic: A novel cannot be of the highest quality unless most readers become emotionally engaged with the imaginary world it describes. Thus shifts of narrative point of view within a novel, either between first and third person or of some other sort, detract from tend to make most readers focus on the author.

What this question is testing

Necessary Assumption

Your task

Find the assumption the argument requires in order for its conclusion to hold.

Common trap

Answers that would help the argument but aren't strictly required (sufficient, not necessary).

Winning move

Negate each choice — the right one breaks the argument when negated.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
12.

Which one of the following is an assumption necessary for the critic's conclusion to

Answer choices

  1. Reversal2% picked this

    Most readers become emotionally engaged with the imaginary world described by a novel only if the novel is

    This reverses a premise. EE → HQ

  2. Term Shift6% picked this

    A novel is generally not considered to be of high quality unless it successfully engages the

    Engaging the imagination is not the same as emotionally engaged.

  3. Correct88% picked this

    Most readers cannot become emotionally involved with a novel's imaginary world if they focus

    Why this is right

    This bridges the gap between FA → ~EE emotionally engaged and focusing on he author.

    Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

  4. Supports a premise2% picked this

    Most readers regard a novel's narrative point of view as representing the perspective of

    This supports the premise that shifts of narrative tend to make most readers focus on the author.

  5. Contradiction1% picked this

    Shifts in narrative point of view serve no

    A premise of the argument is that shifts of narrative tend to make readers focus on the author. An author may intend for the readers to focus on the author.

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