Speaker: Like many contemporary

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

TopicsSufficient Assumption

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Stimulus

Speaker: Like many contemporary critics, Smith argues that the true meaning of an author's statements can be understood only through insight into the author's social circumstances. But this same line of analysis can be applied to Smith's own words. Thus, if she is right we should be able, at least in part, Smith herself is not aware of the true meaning of her own words.

What this question is testing

Sufficient Assumption

Your task

Find the assumption that, if added, guarantees the conclusion follows.

Common trap

Answers that only partly bridge the gap, leaving the conclusion unproven.

Winning move

Identify the new term in the conclusion and pick the choice that links it to the evidence.

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The question

15.

The speaker's main conclusion logically follows if which one of the following

Answer choices

Out of Scope2% picked this
Insight into the intended meaning of an author's work is not as important as insight
Insight into the intended meaning of an author’s work is not relevant to the argument.
2%
Correct79% picked this
Smith lacks insight into her own
Why this is right
This triggers the rule argued for by Smith that the true meaning of an author’s statements can be understood only through insight into the author’s social circumstances.
Skill tested: Sufficient Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
79%
Out of Scope3% picked this
There is just one meaning that Smith intends her work
The meaning intended by Smith is not relevant to the argument.
3%
Term Shift10% picked this
Smith's theory about the relation of social circumstances to the understanding of
It is not Smith’s theory that lacks insight, but rather the application of that theory that lacks insight. The speaker assumes that Smith lacks insight into her own social circumstances.
10%
Out of Scope6% picked this
The intended meaning of an author's work is not always good evidence of
Insight into the intended meaning of an author’s work is not relevant to the argument.
6%

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