LSAT Explanation PT 28, S1, Q22: Under the influence of today's computer-oriented

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first break down the passage. It states that children's publishing has changed due to the influence of computer-oriented culture, resulting in books that emphasize illustrations and graphic design. This leads to a lack of substance in the books, making them short-lived and focused on trendy subjects. The changes also involve more humor, simplification of difficult material, and a narrower focus on specific topics.

The question type is a Must Be True (MBT) question, which asks us to identify the statement that is most strongly supported by the information provided in the passage.

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) The inclusion of humorous material and a narrower focus detract from the substance of a children's book.

- While the passage mentions that the changes include more humor and a narrower focus, it does not directly state that these factors are responsible for the lack of substance in the books. Therefore, we cannot conclude that this statement is strongly supported by the passage.

b) The substance of a children's book is important to its longevity.

- The passage states that the lack of substance leads to books being short-lived. In other words, if a book lacks substance, it is likely to be short-lived. The contrapositive of this statement would be that if a book is long-lived, it does not lack substance. This implies that having substance is important for a book's longevity. Thus, this statement is strongly supported by the passage.

c) Children of the computer generation cannot concentrate on long, unbroken sections of prose.

- The passage does not mention anything about children's ability to concentrate on prose. This statement is not supported by the information provided.

d) Children judge books primarily on the basis of graphic design.

- While the passage mentions that children's books now emphasize illustrations and graphic design, it does not state that children judge books primarily based on these factors. This statement is not supported by the passage.

e) The lack of substance of a children's book is unlikely to be important to its popularity.

- The passage discusses how the lack of substance leads to short-lived books covering trendy subjects, but it does not mention anything about the popularity of these books. We cannot conclude that the lack of substance is unimportant to a book's popularity based on the information provided.

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is B, as it is most strongly supported by the information in the passage. The substance of a children's book is important to its longevity, as the lack of substance leads to short-lived books, and having substance is a necessary condition for a book's longevity.