Quote:
Columnist: "Novels published in the past 50 years are far inferior to those published even as recently as 100 years ago. Consider the difference between James
Joyce's Ulysses, from 1922, and the paperbacks you can find featured on the displays at the mega-bookstores. Joyce's writing is art; these contemporary books are no better than TV sitcoms."
Which of the following points to the most serious logical flaw in the columnist's argument?
A. The books the author picked from the bookstore displays may not represent the quality of modern writing
B. The mega-bookstores choose their featured books according to several well-known best-seller lists.
C. Novelists today can rely on their publicists and the Internet to boost the popularity of their novels.
D. A reader who is not familiar with James Joyce's Ulysses could find the columnist's argument unconvincing.
E. There could be criteria other than artistic merit by which to analyze a book's quality.
Premise: James Joyce’s writing in his 1922 novel, Ulysses, is art.
Premise: Contemporary paperbacks that are featured on the displays at mega-bookstores are no better than TV sitcoms.
Conclusion: Novels published in the past 50 years are far inferior to those published 100+ years ago.
Take note that it’s not a very sound comparison to cherry pick a book from 100 years ago that’s still literarily relevant today and compare it to whatever is currently on the display shelf of your local mega-bookstore. The equivalent of dimestore paperbacks from 1922 would probably not have still been in print long enough for a modern reader to be exposed to them.
We’re looking for a logical flaw in the argument.
A. This is a logical flaw. We don’t know how the bookstores select their display materials. If it’s selected by sales volume, and celebrity cookbooks are having a moment, then it wouldn’t be a very reasonable comparison.
B. This strengthens the argument. If it was the opposite, and they selected their displays based on famously panned and reviled modern novels that are an affront to literature, it would weaken the argument.
C. This could strengthen the argument, though there’s nothing in the passage saying that Joyce’s publicist couldn’t have done the same. It’s not what we’re looking for either way.
D. Irrelevant. I think how the author views Joyce is clear.
E. This could, perhaps, weaken the argument. It’s not specific enough though. If it listed another criteria, and the bookstores' displayed novels were more competitive based on that criteria, it would be a stronger choice.
Best answer is A.
65%
(hard)
41%
(01:57)
wrong 
