LSAT

Logical Reasoning

100

Laird: Pure research provides us with new technologies that contribute to saving lives. Even more worthwhile than this, however, is its role in expanding our knowledge and providing new, unexplored ideas.

Kim: Your priorities are mistaken. Saving lives is what counts most of all. Without pure research, medicine would not be as advanced as it is.

Laird and Kim disagree on whether pure research

1. derives its significance in part from its providing new technologies
2. expands the boundaries of our knowledge of medicine
3. should have the saving of human lives as an important goal
4. has its most valuable achievements in medical applications
5. has any value apart from its role in providing new technologies to save lives

What is D) has its most valuable achievements in medical applications

200

Executive: We recently ran a set of advertisements in the print version of a travel magazine and on that magazine’s website. We were unable to get any direct information about consumer response to the print ads. However, we found that consumer response to the ads on the website was much more limited than is typical for website ads. We concluded that consumer response to the print ads was probably below par as well.

The executive’s reasoning does which one of the following?

1. bases a prediction of the intensity of a phenomenon on information about the intensity of that phenomenon’s cause
2. uses information about the typical frequency of events of a general kind to draw a conclusion about the probability of a particular event of that kind
3. infers a statistical generalization from claims about a large number of specific instances
4. uses a case in which direct evidence is available to draw a conclusion about an analogous case in which direct evidence is unavailable
5. bases a prediction about future events on facts about recent comparable events

What is D) uses a case in which direct evidence is available to draw a conclusion about an analogous case in which direct evidence is unavailable

300

The supernova event of 1987 is interesting in that there is still no evidence of the neutron star that current theory says should have remained after a supernova of that size. This is in spite of the fact that many of the most sensitive instruments ever developed have searched for the tell-tale pulse of radiation that neutron stars emit. Thus, current theory is wrong in claiming that supernovas of a certain size always produce neutron stars.

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

1. Most supernova remnants that astronomers have detected have a neutron star nearby.
2. Sensitive astronomical instruments have detected neutron stars much farther away than the location of the 1987 supernova.
3. The supernova of 1987 was the first that scientists were able to observe in progress.
4. Several important features of the 1987 supernova are correctly predicted by the current theory.
5. Some neutron stars are known to have come into existence by a cause other than a supernova explosion.

what is B) Sensitive astronomical instruments have detected neutron stars much farther away than the location of the 1987 supernova.

400

Political scientist: As a political system, democracy does not promote political freedom. There are historical examples of democracies that ultimately resulted in some of the most oppressive societies. Likewise, there have been enlightened despotisms and oligarchies that have provided a remarkable level of political freedom to their subjects.

The reasoning in the political scientist’s argument is flawed because it

1. confuses the conditions necessary for political freedom with the conditions sufficient to bring it about     
2. fails to consider that a substantial increase in the level of political freedom might cause a society to become more democratic
3. appeals to historical examples that are irrelevant to the causal claim being made
4. overlooks the possibility that democracy promotes political freedom without being necessary or sufficient by itself to produce it
5. bases its historical case on a personal point of view

What is D) overlooks the possibility that democracy promotes political freedom without being

500

Journalist: To reconcile the need for profits sufficient to support new drug research with the moral imperative to provide medicines to those who most need them but cannot afford them, some pharmaceutical companies feel justified in selling a drug in rich nations at one price and in poor nations at a much lower price. But this practice is unjustified. A nation with a low average income may still have a substantial middle class better able to pay for new drugs than are many of the poorer citizens of an overall wealthier nation.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the journalist’s reasoning?

1. People who are ill deserve more consideration than do healthy people, regardless of their relative socioeconomic positions.
2. Wealthy institutions have an obligation to expend at least some of their resources to assist those incapable of assisting themselves.
3. Whether one deserves special consideration depends on one’s needs rather than on characteristics of the society to which one belongs.
4. The people in wealthy nations should not have better access to health care than do the people in poorer nations.
5. Unequal access to health care is more unfair than an unequal distribution of wealth.

What is C) Whether one deserves special consideration depends on one’s needs rather than on characteristics of the society to which one belongs.

Random Law Trivia

100

The amendment with the fewest words

What is the eighth amendment ("Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
 nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." )

200

Glasses were raised in celebration when this
amendment was ratified in 1933.

What is the Twenty-first Amendment (ending prohibition)?

300

This confectionery operator challenged a New York law that established a maximum ten-hour day for bakers

Who is Joseph Lochner?

400

This man's failure to receive his commission for justice of the peace
led to one of the most famous Court decisions of all time.

Who is William Marbury?

500

This president was the last to argue a case before the
United States Supreme Court.

Who is Richard Nixon?

(Representing a family suing TIME in an
 invasion of privacy suit, Time v. Hill)

Study Techniques

100

when should you start studying for the LSAT

between a year and 8 months before

200

What is the most important aspect of study

Drilling and Blind review

300

what do you d the day before the LSAT

Dont cram! Do something for yourself, eat well, get lots of sleep

400

what should you not consume before you take your lsat

heavy dairy, lots of caffiene, or absolutely nothing

500

How often should you take a PT?

every 3-4 weeks

types of LR

100

asks you to find the argument that uses the same logic

what is parallel reasoning

200

Explain the problem with the argument

what is find the flaw

300

Identify something that allows the conclusion to be properly drawn, even if it doesn't prove the conclusion.

what is Necessary Assumption

400

 Help support the argument’s conclusion. While the correct answer doesn't always prove the conclusion, it will introduce evidence that brings the argument closer to proving its conclusion.

what is Strengthen

500

Find the answer that introduces evidence that calls the conclusion into question.

what is Weaken