LSAT Explanation PT 39, S4, Q8: Jorge: You won't be able to

LSAT Question Stem

Ruth responds to Jorge's criticism by 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Method of Reasoning question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In this LSAT problem, we have a conversation between Jorge and Ruth discussing the ability to write well about a certain topic. Let's break down their arguments and then identify the question type and answer choices.

Jorge's Argument:

1. Premise: Rock music of the 1960s was created by and for people who were then in their teens and early twenties.

2. Premise: You (Ruth) were just an infant then [in the 1960s].

3. Conclusion: You (Ruth) won't be able to write well about the rock music of the 1960s.

Ruth's Argument:

1. Premise: There are living writers who write well about ancient Roman culture, even though those writers are obviously not a part of ancient Roman culture.

2. Premise: Why should my youth alone prevent me from writing well about the music of a period as recent as the 1960s?

3. Conclusion: Your (Jorge's) reasoning is absurd.

The question type for this problem is Method of Reasoning (MOR), which asks us to identify how Ruth responded to Jorge's criticism.

Now let's analyze the answer choices:

a) Ruth does not challenge Jorge's claim about her age. Instead, she accepts it and questions why her youth should be a limiting factor in writing well about the 1960s music.

b) Ruth does bring up the example of ancient Roman culture, but she does not clarify a definition of popular culture. Her focus is on the ability to write well about a topic, regardless of personal experience during that time.

c) This answer choice is partially correct. Ruth does use the example of ancient Roman culture, but her goal is not to legitimize contemporary culture. Instead, she uses the example to show that it's possible to write well about a topic even without direct experience.

d) This is the correct answer. Ruth uses an analogy between writing about ancient Roman culture and writing about 1960s music to challenge Jorge's assumption that one must have been a teen or older during the 1960s to write well about its music.

e) Ruth does not question Jorge's qualifications to make judgments about popular culture. She focuses on challenging his reasoning and assumption about her ability to write well about 1960s music.