Logical reasoning PrepTest 144 · Section 2 · Question 24

Incorrect. The argument discusses whether a book pleases readers, and whether the author intended this pleasure, but it doesn't discuss the intent of people when reading a book and whether they expect to get pleasure out of it, so this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. This answer connects the relevant concepts, but it disconnects the two ideas instead of connecting them, while also reversing the connection the argument relies on (the argument assumes that impact on the reader determines intent, not that intent determines impact on the reader).

Incorrect. The concern of the book's readers doesn't determine the author's intent or the outcome—whether those readers actually get pleasure out of reading the book.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Opposing point - Author writes to please audience → not Impart truthIf that were true, then you could determine truthfulness through sales figuresBook popular → Gave readers pleasure → Some of book is not trueTherefore - The opposing point cannot be true

Answer Anticipation:
There's a key phrase early on in this stimulus—"in order to." That initial statement is not about whether a book gives readers pleasure, but rather whether the author writes with the purpose of pleasing the audience. As motive is almost always relevant to the logic of a question when it shows up, we should pay attention and see if the argument shifts to discussing books that give pleasure instead of the author's intention.

And, as the argument progresses, it makes just that shift. Later, when discussing sales figures and popularity, it doesn't discuss a book that was written to please the audience, but rather a book that did give people pleasure. It's possible that a book written to please the audience will fail, and it's just as possible that a book written to impart great truths to the audience can give them pleasure despite that not being the intention.

Since the argument's conclusion states that the initial view about the author's intention is wrong, but it does so based on discussing the effect and not the intent, the correct answer needs to connect those ideas—it will have to establish that if a book gives readers pleasure, then the author intended it to do so.

Answer Explanation:
This answer connects the intent to the outcome and, unlike answer choice (B), it doesn't reverse the relationship. If a book can give its readers pleasure whether or not the author intends it, then the rebuttal discussing the actual pleasure readers experience in reading the book doesn't necessarily undermine the opposing point about authors who write "in order to" please their readers.

Key Takeaway:
Intent/motive is a key concept that the LSAT tests—generally by seeing if you recognize intent and outcome aren't the same thing. Whenever the reasons behind an action are discussed, be sure to note it and see if the argument shifts to discussing the outcomes.

Incorrect. If anything, this answer cuts against the argument and thus can't serve as a necessary assumption.