LSAT 111 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q1

LR Question 1 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Some critics argue that an opera’s stage directions are never…

QUESTION TYPE: Main Conclusion

CONCLUSION: Operatic Stage directions can be reflected in music.

REASONING: Mozart’s operas contain scenes where the music sounds like stage directions.

ANALYSIS: The question stem reads a lot like a “role in argument” question stem. But it’s actually asking us to figure out what the conclusion is.

The argument argues against the conclusion that an opera’s stage directions are never reflected in music. They give an example from Mozart to show that changes of scenery can be reflected in the music. Then they conclude that other stage directions can therefore be reflected as well.

It’s an ok argument. They’ve correctly proven that stage directions (changes of scenery) can be reflected in music. But they don’t have much evidence for the conclusion that other types of operatic directions can be reflected as well.

___________

1. The stimulus says that a change of scenery is the most basic stage direction. But it doesn’t say it’s the stage direction most frequently reflected in music. It just says it can be reflected in music.
2. The whole argument argues that stage directions can be reflected in music. Mozart’s operas are an example.
3. The argument goes further than this. Stage directions are reflected in the music.
4. CORRECT. This is the last sentence. Mozart’s stage directions were just an example of a wider phenomenon, according to the author. 
5. We only know this is true for Mozart’s change of scene music. We don’t know if it’s true for all operatic stage directions.