Sufficient AssumptionDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: The critic claims that because serious writers care about style, they aren't just in it for the paycheck, even though popular books make the most money.
Conclusion: No serious novelist has the desire to make money as their primary motivation.
Reasoning: Popular appeal leads to higher earnings, and every serious novelist is concerned with literary style.
Analysis: There is a significant 'missing link' between caring about literary style and the lack of a profit motive. The argument assumes that these two traits are mutually exclusive—that you cannot both care about style and be primarily motivated by money. To make this conclusion follow logically, we need an assumption that connects the two, such as 'anyone who cares about literary style is not primarily motivated by money.' Look for an answer that forces a choice between artistic concern and financial motivation.
Conclusion: No serious novelist has the desire to make money as their primary motivation.
Reasoning: Popular appeal leads to higher earnings, and every serious novelist is concerned with literary style.
Analysis: There is a significant 'missing link' between caring about literary style and the lack of a profit motive. The argument assumes that these two traits are mutually exclusive—that you cannot both care about style and be primarily motivated by money. To make this conclusion follow logically, we need an assumption that connects the two, such as 'anyone who cares about literary style is not primarily motivated by money.' Look for an answer that forces a choice between artistic concern and financial motivation.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage20.The conclusion of the critic's argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?
Correct Answer
B
B supplies exactly the needed link: No novelist who cares about literary style is primarily money-motivated. With Serious novelist → cares about style, we validly derive Serious novelist → not primarily money-motivated.
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