LSAT Explanation PT 36, S1, Q22: Any writer whose purpose is personal

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion can be properly inferred if which one of the following is assumed? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage and identify its structure. The passage presents the following premises and conclusion:

Premise 1 (P1): Any writer whose purpose is personal expression sometimes uses words ambiguously.

Premise 2 (P2): Every poet's purpose is personal expression.

Conclusion (C): No poetry reader's enjoyment depends on attaining a precise understanding of what the poet means.

In simpler terms, the argument states that since poets have personal expression as their purpose and writers with personal expression sometimes use ambiguous words, no poetry reader's enjoyment relies on understanding the poet's precise meaning.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Do readers whose enjoyment depends on attaining a precise understanding of what a writer means ever read works by writers who sometimes use words ambiguously?"

The question type of this problem is Sufficient Assumption, which asks us to identify the assumption that, if true, would make the conclusion follow logically from the premises.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) This answer choice states that writers who sometimes use words ambiguously have no readers who try to attain a precise understanding of what the writer means. However, this choice focuses on the readers' attempts, not their enjoyment. The conclusion is about enjoyment, so this choice doesn't properly connect to the conclusion.

b) This answer choice states that writers whose purpose is personal expression are unconcerned with whether anyone enjoys reading their works. This choice doesn't address the relationship between ambiguous words and readers' enjoyment, so it doesn't help us draw the conclusion.

c) Correct answer. This answer choice states that no writer who ever uses words ambiguously has any reader whose enjoyment depends on attaining a precise understanding of what the writer means. This assumption connects the ambiguous words used by poets (due to their personal expression) to the enjoyment of poetry readers, making the conclusion follow logically.

d) This answer choice states that most writers whose readers' enjoyment does not depend on attaining a precise understanding of the writers' words are poets. This choice doesn't help us draw the conclusion since it only provides information about the majority of writers, not all poets.

e) This answer choice states that readers who have a precise understanding of what a writer has written derive their enjoyment from that understanding. However, this choice doesn't address the relationship between ambiguous words used by poets and the enjoyment of poetry readers, so it doesn't help us draw the conclusion.

In summary, the correct answer is C, as it provides the necessary assumption to connect the ambiguous words used by poets to the enjoyment of poetry readers, making the conclusion follow logically from the premises.