PrepTest 141
[lcid:3660] Prep Test 141 LSAT — Reading Comp — S1
Reading comp
Passage
From a critical discussion of the work of Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Questions 8-15 . What Cameron called her
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic:
Paragraph 1
Despite some nay-sayers, Cameron's "fancy-subject" pictures are vital, true, and special because they capture something unique by showing the true experience of the actors at the same time as they depict a fictional scene.
Key Lines:
Lines 13-20 - The Author states a positive opinion of Cameron's work and highlights what gives them their "charm"
Lines 21-24 - Another reason for the value of Cameron's work
Lines 43-36 - Another reason for the value of Cameron's work
Line 47 - An example is introduced
Meta-Structure:
Comparisons - This passage relies heavily on comparing Cameron's works to others, to highlight what makes them unique and special. Her photos are compared both to traditionally "good" art and "bad" art to show that, while they don't amount to the former, they don't fall into the traps of the latter, and they instead capture something missing from other art—a truth about the circumstances under which the photos are taken, revealing a story of the actors involved.
Last Thoughts:
Since there were so many comparisons in the passage, we should expect questions and answers that reflect these details, so it'll be good to have those noted in some way (even if you just threw a "Comp" note to allow yourself to find where the comparisons are).
Also, note that all the paragraphs have a similar function—to highlight something about Cameron's photos that make them special. As such, it would be important to define the role of each paragraph a little more precisely so that we can find relevant information faster. That's why, in our Summary, we noted a bit more about how each paragraph proceeds.
Also, do yourself a favor and Google her photographs. Trust us, they don't disappoint.
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- An artist's work is described, compared to others, and judged
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Cameron - "fancy-subject" photos of costumed people reenacting stories, but accidentally comical
- Compared to serious work - Cameron's work feature "actors" who don't want to be there
- Failed goal of Cameron - Seamless works of illustrative art
- Compared to curiosities (e.g., Rejlander) - not extravagantly awful
- Author - Her words are "among [Victorian photography's] most vital images."
- Paragraph note
- What makes Cameron's images special (truth), with more comparisons (contrast)
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Truth is key - the people's faces showing how they feel creates a plot
- Vs. painting - Can suspend disbelief because there aren't real people
- Vs. theater - Can suspend disbelief and believe actor is character
- Photo - We know it's an actor
- Paragraph note
- More on what makes Cameron's images special (combo of amateurism and artistry), with examples
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Special because of combo of amateurism and artistry
- Ex - Arthur - Props are very fake, but it becomes magical
- Like good amateur theatricals, not bad ones (guilty pleasures)
Despite some nay-sayers, Cameron's "fancy-subject" pictures are vital, true, and special because they capture something unique by showing the true experience of the actors at the same time as they depict a fictional scene.
Key Lines:
Lines 13-20 - The Author states a positive opinion of Cameron's work and highlights what gives them their "charm"
Lines 21-24 - Another reason for the value of Cameron's work
Lines 43-36 - Another reason for the value of Cameron's work
Line 47 - An example is introduced
Meta-Structure:
Comparisons - This passage relies heavily on comparing Cameron's works to others, to highlight what makes them unique and special. Her photos are compared both to traditionally "good" art and "bad" art to show that, while they don't amount to the former, they don't fall into the traps of the latter, and they instead capture something missing from other art—a truth about the circumstances under which the photos are taken, revealing a story of the actors involved.
Last Thoughts:
Since there were so many comparisons in the passage, we should expect questions and answers that reflect these details, so it'll be good to have those noted in some way (even if you just threw a "Comp" note to allow yourself to find where the comparisons are).
Also, note that all the paragraphs have a similar function—to highlight something about Cameron's photos that make them special. As such, it would be important to define the role of each paragraph a little more precisely so that we can find relevant information faster. That's why, in our Summary, we noted a bit more about how each paragraph proceeds.
Also, do yourself a favor and Google her photographs. Trust us, they don't disappoint.
Question prompt
Which one of the
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: B
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Social Science
Answer choices
-
AThe circumstances under which Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 5-6; Lines 14-16) This answer does reflect a part of the Author's opinion of the pieces, but it doesn't capture his positive view of Cameron's work. It reflects a part of the opinion from the first paragraph without moving on to the charm, vitality, and truth of them. -
BThe peculiar charm of Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B matches the stem
Correct. Question Type:
Main Point
Strategy Overview:
Reiterate the Main Point anticipated right after reading the passage
Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
The Author of this passage discusses the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, calling it "charm[ing]" (Line 14), "vital" (Line 20), and full of "truth" (Line 24), while providing the viewer with "delight" (Line 57). So the main point reflects a positive view of her work.
Why does the Author believe that these characteristics apply to Cameron's work? It's their capturing of the "sitting, rather than the fiction" (Lines 24-25) that contributes to it, with a "singular combination of amateurism and artistry" (Lines 45-46).
So the main point of the passage is:
Despite some nay-sayers, Cameron's "fancy-subject" pictures are vital, true, and special because they capture something unique by showing the true experience of the actors at the same time as they depict a fictional scene.
Answer Explanation:
(Line 14; Lines 24-27; Lines 50-53) The Author notes that Cameron's work has a charm about it, where despite having actors that are making faces and props that are laughable, they capture a truth of the actor's experience while also portraying a fictional scene. It's this juxtaposition of truth and fiction that's noted as being unique to Cameron and the medium she worked in (photographs), so this is the correct answer.
Key Takeaway:
When an RC passage is discussing the work of the Author, the main point will generally be the Author's opinion of the work, and why they feel that way. And, in general, that opinion will fall into some combination of it being good, innovative, or unique. Here, the opinion is mostly in the latter category, but there are some elements of the other two, as well. -
CThe implicit claim of Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 10-12) This answer reflects one sentence in the passage, and it presents a negative view of Cameron's work, where the Author of this passage believes that her photos are charming and vital, even if they aren't favorably comparable to traditional masterpieces. -
DThe most successful of Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 10-14) The Author doesn't "rank" Cameron's works as being more and less successful. On top of that, he credits the knowledge that the sitters are role-playing as being "what give[s] the photographs their life and charm" (Line 14), so he would likely disagree with this answer. -
EThe interest of Cameron's Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 24-27) This is a very tempting answer! The passage does note that it's the "truth of the sitting, rather than the fiction" that comes across in these "wonderful and strange" photographs. However, these "traces" of real life and the actors "give the photographs their life and charm," but they couldn't do so if they weren't of the imaginary scenes. It's the combination that leads to the vitality of Cameron's images. Additionally, this answer is about "interest" in her photos, not the charm—a slightly different opinion!
What this tests
Discussion
-
Why D? 1 reply
Started by farnoushsalimian