Q1

[bigtree65]

Is B wrong because it doesn't include that lum is different from other authors?

I'm a little confused Bout why A is the answer

[JAREDTX1993]

So you're close.

Full disclosure, I got this wrong on when I took this PT.

During review, I picked A very confidently.

The reason B is tricky is because it correctly asserts that there's a "conflict" so to speak, but it misrepresents the conflict.

The conflict is described as old culture versus new identity.

Lines 41-43 exhibit this most strongly.

B talks about tradition versus success, a concept not mentioned until last few lines, and one that we have no idea how he feels about. Is he after success? We only know it's very present in American culture, not that he's struggling with it.

A is better because it exhibits the conflict, and it talks about his departure from other Asian Hawaiian writings, which is important in the first paragraph.

[ohthatpatrick]

Great response.

A lot of tempting but ultimately incorrect answers on Main Point questions are going to be "true, but too narrow".

I would probably give (B) the benefit of the doubt on a first pass, because it does have safe, moderate wording and it discusses some of the themes of the passage.

Ultimately, though, as the previous poster points out, "the desire for individual success" is NOT a major theme, and not even necessarily one of Lum's poetic themes. The desire for individual success is attributed to the 'cultural emphasis of the US" ... since Lum does confront this culture in some of his poetry, we might be able to indirectly support the idea that Lum's poetry exhibits some tension from the US's cultural emphasis. But - we shouldn't really want "might be able to indirectly support" for Main Point. Whatever wording is being used should very directly match up with key moments of the passage discussing Lum's poetry.

When I read an LSAT passage, I actually read for a Most Valuable Sentence, because the Main Point correct answer typically borrows heavily from this sentence. (many passages have 2 or 3 important sentences that must be synthesized for the main point, but most of them have 1 sentence that really crystallizes the main point).

Since the purpose of this passage is to discuss an artist, the author's Main Point will be either to defend this artist against criticism or to highlight something noteworthy/distinctive about this artist's works.

Whenever I see a passage begin with phrases like
"______ is GENERALLY thought of as ____"
" MOST scientists have historically believed _____ "
" It is COMMONLY thought that ______ "

I anticipate that the subject matter of the passage will be to highlight someone/something that cuts AGAINST that trend.

Similarly, the first sentence of this passage sets us up for anticipating the second sentence. MOST Asian American poetry from Hawaii will either
- romanticize multicultural paradise
or
- use familiar Asian American literary themes

Okay ... so I anticipate that we will be discussing Asian American poetry from Hawaii that does NOT do those things.

Line 6-9 make it clear that that's what's going on. The idea that Lum's poetry "is striking" for this reason tells me that THIS is why the author wants to write about Lum.

Okay, so what does "understood on its own terms" mean?

Lines 9-13 articulate Lum's vision. THIS is the big picture. This is the Most Valuable Sentence.

Notice how (A), the correct answer, just reinforces these first three sentences ... MOST Asian-American Hawaiian poets do ____ , Lum doesn't, he does ____.

other answers
(B) as discussed, "drive for individual success" is directly from US culture, not Lum's poetry

(C) "rejects" is way too strong

(D) this may be true, but did the author ever say it or stress it? This comparison was not the focus of the passage. The focus was distinguishing Lum from other poets with the same background. This answer is lumping together Lum with all the other Asian/American Hawaiian poets.

(E) "unsuccessful" is way too negative.

Hope this helps.