LSAT Explanation PT 27, S4, Q23: Much of today's literature is inferior:

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the information in the passage? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the passage. The passage states that much of today's literature is inferior because most authors are intellectually and emotionally inexperienced, and their works lack intricacy and focus on the significant aspects that characterize good literature. However, Hypatia's latest novel is promising as it shows maturity, complexity, and grace that far exceeds her earlier works.

The question type is MSS (Most Strongly Supported), which means we need to find the answer choice that is most strongly supported by the information given in the passage.

Now, let's go through each answer choice:

a) Much of today's literature focuses less on the significant than Hypatia's latest novel focuses on the significant.

This answer choice is tempting, but we cannot conclude that Hypatia's latest novel focuses more on the significant than much of today's literature. We only know that her latest novel is better than her earlier works.

b) Much of today's literature at least lacks the property of grace.

The passage does not mention grace in relation to today's literature, so we cannot make this conclusion.

c) Hypatia's latest novel is good literature when judged by today's standards.

While Hypatia's latest novel is promising and better than her earlier works, we cannot conclude that it is good literature based on today's standards.

d) Hypatia's latest novel is clearly better than the majority of today's literature.

This answer choice is incorrect because the passage only states that "much" of today's literature is inferior, not the "majority." "Much" does not necessarily mean more than 50%, so we cannot make this conclusion.

e) Hypatia's latest novel has at least one property of good literature to a greater degree than her earlier works.

This answer choice is correct because it is supported by the passage. The passage states that Hypatia's latest novel shows maturity, complexity, and grace that far exceeds her earlier works. These qualities are characteristics of good literature, so we can conclude that her latest novel has at least one property of good literature to a greater degree than her earlier works.

So, the correct answer is E.