LSAT Explanation PT 43, S3, Q14: Social critic: The operas composed by
LSAT Question Stem
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion that the social critic's argument, as it is stated above, is structured to establish?
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is a Main Conclusion question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is C.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
This LSAT problem is a Main Conclusion question, where we need to identify the social critic's conclusion. The social critic discusses the operas of Bizet and Verdi and their influence on societal stereotypes about women. The critic argues that since only a small minority of contemporary North Americans have had significant exposure to these works, their influence on reinforcing stereotypes should be limited. Now let's analyze each answer choice.
Answer choice (A): This choice is opposite to the social critic's conclusion. The critic argues that Bizet and Verdi's images of women have not significantly influenced contemporary stereotypes, as only opera lovers are aware of their interpretations.
Answer choice (B): The stimulus doesn't provide enough information about nineteenth-century or contemporary images of women to support this conclusion. The author's focus is on the limited exposure of Bizet's and Verdi's operas, not on the differences between the two interpretations of women.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. It accurately captures the social critic's conclusion that the operas of Bizet and Verdi have not significantly contributed to stereotypical images of women in contemporary North America due to their limited exposure.
Answer choice (D): This choice is too broad in scope. The stimulus focuses on the operas of Bizet and Verdi and their influence on societal stereotypes about women, not on all opera or social attitudes in general.
Answer choice (E): Although this choice is not correct, it could be considered an assumption underlying the social critic's argument. If people could be influenced by things they are not directly exposed to, the critic's premise would not refute the results of the studies. However, this choice does not accurately express the conclusion of the argument.