PrepTest 126, Section 4, Question 16
There are two kinds of horror stories: those(84 more words not shown)
If the statements above are(12 more words not shown)
- AAll descriptions of(9 more words not shown)
- BAny story that(16 more words not shown)
- CHorror stories of(9 more words not shown)
- DMost stories about(7 more words not shown)
- ESome stories that(9 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Only two kinds of horror stories? I can think of ghosts, disasters, and other possibilities. But the passage gives us this classification as a fact, and the question tells us to accept its statements. Arguing about which genre a favorite story belongs to won't help.
Instead, follow the different claims. Some beast stories use the monster to represent a disturbance within the main character. Mad-scientist stories typically suggest that scientific knowledge alone isn't enough to guide us. Then both kinds share two features: violations of natural laws and an intention to frighten the reader.
What we’re looking for
I don't have a precise prediction here. We can check each choice against those facts. Pay attention to which stories each statement covers and whether it describes some stories or a broader group. A conclusion has to stay within what the information actually connects.
Working the answers
- A
The passage concerns monstrous beasts in horror stories, not every description of a monstrous beast. A description in another setting isn't covered by the claim about horror. We can't extend the natural-law statement to all descriptions wherever they occur.
- B
Horror stories describe natural-law violations and aim to produce dread. That doesn't mean every story with such a violation aims to frighten us. A fanciful story could break a law of nature to amuse its readers instead. B starts from one shared feature and assumes the other must follow outside the group described.
- C
We're told that some beast stories symbolize a psychological disturbance in the protagonist. That doesn't establish what horror stories usually do. We don't know the proportion of all horror stories with that feature, including the stories about scientists.
- D
Saying scientific knowledge alone is insufficient isn't the same as opposing science. An author might value scientific knowledge while thinking we also need ethical judgment. D changes that limited concern into an antiscientific attitude. It also speaks of stories about mad scientists generally, while the passage discusses horror stories about them.
- ECorrect
Some beast horror stories use symbolism: the monster represents a psychological disturbance. Those stories also belong to a kind of horror story that describes violations of natural laws. So at least some stories with symbolism describe such violations. We don't need to show that symbolism always involves a violation; the overlap we've been given is enough.
More Must Be True questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Must Be True questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.