Q10

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

The passage suggests which one of the following about Cullen's use of controlled poetic forms?

The lines that support answer choice (A) are found in the first paragraph (lines 9-11). As far as answer choice (B) is concerned, while it is true that Countee Cullen frequently employed classical allusions and Christian religious imagery, we cannot be certain that it was his use of religious themes that led to his use of controlled poetic forms. In a way, answer choice (B) is mistaking correlation for causation. We know that Cullen used religious imagery and that he used controlled poetic forms, but we don't know that the religious imagery led to the controlled poetic forms.

[ccheng]

Your explanation is very helpful. Thanks.

I have one quick question.
I was originally debating between (A) and (B) and knew (B) is less likely to be correct but was still hesitate to select (A) because the extreme tone word "best". This was one of a few situations I was tricked by such tone word even though they are correct answers. I am wondering how do you overcome such situations.

I guess I could explain the use of "best" is because the word "prefer" in passage has the meaning of "what you like best among all" and therefore the extreme tone is justified. Any suggestions are really appreciated.

[doug.feng]

Your explanation is very helpful. Thanks.

I have one quick question.
I was originally debating between (A) and (B) and knew (B) is less likely to be correct but was still hesitate to select (A) because the extreme tone word "best". This was one of a few situations I was tricked by such tone word even though they are correct answers. I am wondering how do you overcome such situations.

I guess I could explain the use of "best" is because the word "prefer" in passage has the meaning of "what you like best among all" and therefore the extreme tone is justified. Any suggestions are really appreciated.

While the word "best" seems to be extreme in a general sense of the LSAT, the answer choice connects "best means" to the text: "allow him to capture." I think for this passage, if you focused on strictly the example of "The Ballad of The Brown Girl," the literary critics in that example discuss the first answer choice very specifically that makes the rest of the choices seem only tempting because they relate to the overall "big picture." Because of the three examples of Cullen's poetry, "The Ballad of the Brown Girl" was the only example that touched on his use of "controlled poetic forms," while the last two examples focus on the racial issues he was concerned with.

[tommywallach]

More great advice from Doug!

-t