Logical Reasoning

PT128 · S2 · Q15 H. G Wells's great dramatic novel

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

  • Save & drill this skill build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

H. G. Wells's great dramatic novel The Time Machine is classified as science fiction simply because it takes place in the future.

Conclusion

This classification is inappropriate. i.e. The Time Machine should not be classified as science fiction.

Evidence (because)

The Time Machine has a quality that science fiction generally lacks (compelling characters worth caring about).

Evaluate

The argument core here is very simple:

If a book has a then inappropriate quality that genre X → to classify the book generally lacks as part of genre X

The hard part is finding those elements. The word But is a pivot indicator that means we're starting to hear the Author's Argument. However, we might hear Conclusion then Support. We might hear Support then Conclusion.

The first claim after But is "this classification is inappropriate". The word "inappropriate" is an opinion indicator and this claim feels like an "I disagree" rebuttal, both of which suggest that this is the Conclusion.

The next word is "because", which is a support indicator (f.a.b.s). This confirms that the first claim after But was indeed the Conclusion.

When conclusions have pronouns in them ("this classification is inappropriate"), we need to import the referenced language. "Classifying Time Machine as sci-fi is inappropriate". We can interchangeably switch in other normative language like 'should not' for 'inappropriate'. "We shouldn't classify Time Machine as sci-fi."

What's the support for this conclusion? What is it about Time Machine that doesn't match sci-fi? It has compelling characters, which sci-fi generally lacks.

Goal

Let's find an answer that allows us to prove that Time Machine shouldn't be classified as sci-fi. Most likely it will be based on possessing a trait that sci-fi generally lacks.

15.

The argument's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?

  1. All novels that contain compelling

    Unrelated to Goal

    We're looking for a rule that we can use to prove that "Time Machine should not be classified as sci-fi". This isn't a rule about what should or shouldn't be classified as sci-fi.

    19% picked this

  2. Novels can always be clearly

    No Impact

    We're looking for a rule that we can use to prove that "Time Machine should not be classified as sci-fi". This is at least a rule related to classifying genres. But all it tells us is that Time Machine can be clearly classified into a distinct genre. It doesn't tell us whether that genre should or shouldn't be sci-fi.

    9% picked this

  3. A work of science fiction

    Unrelated to Goal

    We're looking for a rule that we can use to prove that "Time Machine should not be classified as sci-fi". This isn't a rule about what should or shouldn't be classified as sci-fi. It's a rule about what works can or can't achieve greatness.

    4% picked this

  4. The most important determinant of

    Unrelated to Goal

    We're looking for a rule that we can use to prove that "Time Machine should not be classified as sci-fi". This isn't a rule about what novels should or shouldn't be classified as sci-fi. It's a rule about what most determines a novel's quality.

    2% picked this

  5. Correct

    A dramatic novel cannot both

    Why this is right

    Whoa, this is a weird answer! The only reason we'd find it is because we're looking for a rule that can allow us to prove that "Time Machine should not be classified as sci-fi". This is the only answer that has anything to do with whether or not something belongs to the genre of sci-fi (should be classified as sci-fi). Because of that, it's really the only answer worth considering, even if we don't understand how it works. Can we apply it to Time Machine? It says that, "If a dramatic novel is great, then it can't belong to the genre of sci-fi." Is Time Machine a dramatic novel that's great? Yes! The first four words tell us that Time Machine is a great dramatic novel. Thus, according to this answer, it can't belong to the genre of sci-fi. Thus, we have proven the conclusion true -- classifying Time Machine as sci-fi is inappropriate. Was there any way to suspect that the correct answer would use that meaningless detail rather than the actual premise? No! What a crazy decision by the test writers. What an important reminder to stay flexible and just worry about proving the conclusion. We can't be sure what part of the evidence or background will show up in the correct answer, but any wording in the Conclusion that was never defined in the evidence (such as what works should / shouldn't be classified as sci-fi), then we can be sure the correct answer will deal with that wording, or that idea.

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

    66% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free