LSAT Explanation PT 26, S3, Q20: Only poetry cannot be translated well,

LSAT Question Stem

The information above provides the LEAST support for which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Must Be False question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

This question is a Must Be True (MBT) EXCEPT question, which means we are looking for the answer choice that is the least supported by the information provided in the passage. In other words, we want to find the answer choice that could be false based on the passage. Before discussing the answer choices, let's briefly understand the passage.

The passage states that only poetry cannot be translated well, and it is the poets who preserve languages because people have motivation to learn a language to witness the beauty of poetry in its original form. Now let's analyze each answer choice.

a) All nonpoetic literature can be translated well.

This answer choice is supported by the passage. The passage explicitly states that "only poetry cannot be translated well," which implies that all other forms of literature can be translated well. This answer choice is not the least supported one.

b) One purpose of writing poetry is to preserve the language in which it is written.

This answer choice is the correct one because the passage does not provide enough support for this claim. The passage states that poets preserve languages, but it does not say that preserving language is a purpose of writing poetry. This statement could be false based on the passage.

c) Some translations do not capture all that was expressed in the original language.

This answer choice is supported by the passage. The passage states that only poetry cannot be translated well, which implies that some translations fail to capture the essence of the original language. This answer choice is not the least supported one.

d) The beauty of poetry is not immediately accessible to people who do not understand the language in which the poetry was written.

This answer choice is also supported by the passage. The passage states that "we cannot witness the beauty of poetry except in the language in which it is composed," which means that people who do not understand the language cannot immediately access the beauty of poetry. This answer choice is not the least supported one.

e) Perfect translation from one language to another is sometimes impossible.

This answer choice is supported by the passage as well. The passage states that only poetry cannot be translated well, which implies that perfect translation is sometimes impossible. This answer choice is not the least supported one.

In conclusion, the answer choice that is least supported by the information in the passage is B: "One purpose of writing poetry is to preserve the language in which it is written."