LSAT Explanation PT 41, S3, Q18: Tallulah: The columnist attributes the decline

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of Tallulah's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Main Conclusion question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In Tallulah's argument, she challenges the columnist's conclusion about the decline of interest in novels. The argument can be broken down as follows:

Premise: Contemporary fiction is frequently of poor quality, while many good newspapers, magazines, professional journals, and books of other types are currently available.

Conclusion: The columnist has overlooked important evidence in reaching their conclusion.

Now let's analyze the question type and each answer choice. The question type is Main Conclusion, which means we need to find the answer choice that best represents the main conclusion of Tallulah's argument.

a) Contemporary fiction is unpopular because it is meaningless, depressing, and of poor overall quality.

While this statement is related to the premise, it is not the main conclusion. Tallulah uses this premise to support her main point that the columnist overlooked key evidence.

b) The columnist's claim that novels are being displaced by consumerism, technology, and television is false.

This answer choice does not accurately represent Tallulah's conclusion. She doesn't directly disagree with the columnist's conclusion; she only argues that the columnist didn't consider all the evidence.

c) The view expressed by the columnist was formed without considering all of the pertinent evidence.

This answer choice accurately captures the main conclusion of Tallulah's argument. She believes that the columnist overlooked important evidence, which is the poor quality of contemporary fiction and the availability of other good reading materials.

d) People read as much as they used to, but most of the works they now read are not novels.

This statement is not found in the passage. Tallulah mentions that other good writing is available, but she doesn't claim that people necessarily read those materials more.

e) A large number of high-quality newspapers, magazines, professional journals, and nonfiction books are currently published.

This answer choice restates part of Tallulah's premise but does not express her main conclusion.

Therefore, the correct answer is C, as it best represents the main conclusion of Tallulah's argument.