7Sagers, is there an example of a LR question that you have deconstructed front to back that really paid dividends for you? I’m not talking about magic bullets or anything, but a question that after you had a foundational grasp of LR down, provided an understanding that you felt took you to a deeper comprehension of the test? Maybe a question that you were thankful you got wrong because of the insight heavily reviewing it provided? If possible, I would like to use this thread to bring together our views as a community on this matter. Disparate points of view, like the sinews of the rope are often the strongest when they come together.
For me, my question is 53-3-22, the Paradox-Except question. The first layer of difficulty on this question for me is the “except” element of the question stem. For some reason, I lose sight of this when my brain tries to make the answer choices fit, when they do fit (that is to say, when they actually resolve the paradox) it takes a fair amount of discipline for me to not consider them the “correct” answer. Essentially, I feel as though it takes me an extra step to first translate the answer in a manner in which resolves the paradox and then eliminate it as wrong. I am reminded in this regard of what Marx wrote about the clunkiness of learning a new language: " In like manner, the beginner who has learned a new language always translates it back into his mother tongue, but he assimilates the spirit of the new language and expresses himself freely in it only when he moves in it without recalling the old and when he forgets his native tongue.”
The first lesson this question provided me was not to waste the mental energy on the “Except” part. Simply know before I sit for the actual test that “except” means what it means and be familiar enough with the exam that that process is automatic and smooth. The first time I got this question wrong I simply chose something that resolved the paradox (C) and wrote “Easy!” in the margins. This will never happen again.
The next lesson this question taught me what was both out-of-bounds and in-bounds in the realm of assumptions. That is to say what constitutes “implausible, superfluous…” by “common sense standards” when weighing the assumptions of answer choices? The second time I got this question wrong I chose (A) because I thought it took more assumptions to consider (A) as a resolution than it did any other. So count that as 2 times I got this question wrong for 2 different reasons.
At the end of the day for this question, you are forced to weigh whether (A) or (B) actually resolves the paradox more. (A) carries with it the assumption that because libraries are buying fewer “popular” novels, that people are choosing to buy them at bookstores and therefore are increasing profit. (B) carries with it the assumption that not only are bookstores contained within the nebulous “most” retail category in which shoplifting has hit, but that the cost of the “sophisticated antitheft equipment” was not only covered by bookstores being “largely unaffected,” but that it actually lent itself to “increased profits,” all within the realm of “recent.” Colloquially, if I were to show (B) to my friends who are nurses or chefs or mechanics, it would make sense as something that resolved the issue. Yet the assumptions that it carries because of the wording, require much more mental gymnastics than (A) does to resolve the issue.
Lesson
#2 this question taught me: you are going to have to sometimes make some assumptions, make them cautiously and weigh your options. you don't have to love the answer choice for it to be correct.
Lesson 3 is to bury the question when you've answered it. It's worth 1 point.
So 7Sagers, I hope this wasn't too stream-of-conscious, but what are yours? I look forward to your comments!
-David
Comments
In my syllabus it is between PT 58 & 59 but I posted the link for you @doneill3389
Get that LG to 0!!
Great post question!
I am however, back on track as of this week and updated my study schedule plan (I love that tool https://7sage.com/study-schedule/)