Terminology
specific error, defect, or weakness in an argument's reasoning that prevents the premises from logically proving the conclusion
What is a flaw
a question which asks you to find an unstated premise that, if added to the argument, completely guarantees the truth of the conclusion
what is a sufficient assumption question
Millions of homes are now using low-energy lighting, but millions more have still to make the switch, a fact that the government and the home lighting industry are eager to change. Although low-wattage bulbs cost more per bulb than normal bulbs, their advantages to the homeowner are enormous, and therefore everyone should use low-wattage bulbs.
Information about which one of the following would be least useful in evaluating the argument?
A.the actual cost of burning low-wattage bulbs compared to that of burning normal bulbs
B. the profits the home lighting industry expects to make from sales of low-wattage bulbs
C. the specific cost of a low-wattage bulb compared with that of a normal bulb
D. the opinion of current users of low-wattage bulbs as to their effectiveness
E.the average life of a low-wattage bulb compared with that of a normal bulb
B. the profits the home lighting industry expects to make from sales of low-wattage bulbs
After replacing his old gas water heater with a new, pilotless, gas water heater that is rated as highly efficient, Jimmy’s gas bills increased.
Each of the following, if true, contributes to an explanation of the increase mentioned above except:
A. The new water heater uses a smaller percentage of the gas used by Jimmy’s household than did the old one.
B. Shortly after the new water heater was installed, Jimmy’s uncle came to live with him, doubling the size of the household
C. After having done his laundry at a laundromat, Jimmy bought and started using a gas dryer when he replaced his water heater.
D. Jimmy’s utility company raised the rates for gas consumption following installation of the new water heater.
E. Unusually cold weather following installation of the new water heater resulted in heavy gas usage.
A. The new water heater uses a smaller percentage of the gas used by Jimmy’s household than did the old one.
How long is each section of the LSAT?
35 minutes
an unstated premise that must be true for an argument's conclusion to follow from its evidence
What is Necessary Assumption
a set of two or more facts in a Logical Reasoning stimulus that seem to contradict each other or defy common sense
What is a Paradox
Editorial: One of our local television stations has been criticized for its recent coverage of the personal problems of a local politician’s nephew, but the coverage was in fact good journalism. The information was accurate. Furthermore, the newscast had significantly more viewers than it normally does, because many people are curious about the politician’s nephew’s problems.
Which one of the following principles, if valid, would most help to justify the reasoning in the editorial?
A. Journalism deserves to be criticized if it does not provide information that people want.
B. Any journalism that intentionally misrepresents the facts of a case deserves to be criticized.
C. Any journalism that provides accurate information on a subject about which there is considerable interest is good journalism.
D. Good journalism will always provide people with information that they desire or need.
E. Journalism that neither satisfies the public’s curiosity nor provides accurate information can never be considered good journalism
C. Any journalism that provides accurate information on a subject about which there is considerable interest is good journalism.
Lahar: We must now settle on a procedure for deciding on meeting agendas. Our club’s constitution allows three options: unanimous consent, majority vote, or assigning the task to a committee. Unanimous consent is unlikely. Forming a committee has usually led to factionalism and secret deals. Clearly, we should subject meeting agendas to majority vote.
Lahar’s argument does which one of the following?
A. rejects suggested procedures on constitutional grounds
B. claims that one procedure is the appropriate method for reaching every decision in the club
C. suggests a change to a constitution based on practical considerations
D. recommends a choice based on the elimination of alternative options
E. supports one preference by arguing against those who have advocated alternatives
D. recommends a choice based on the elimination of alternative options
$250
a Logical Reasoning question that asks you to find an answer choice matching the exact logical structure or reasoning pattern of the original argument (the stimulus), regardless of the topic
What is a parallel question
questions based the Reading Comprehension section, where you must analyze two related short passages (Passage A and Passage B) and understand how their arguments, tones, or perspectives relate to one another
What is a Comparitive Question?
Economist: Government intervention in the free market in pursuit of socially desirable goals can affect supply and demand, thereby distorting prices. The ethics of such intervention is comparable to that of administering medicines. Most medicines have harmful as well as beneficial effects, so the use of a type of medicine is ethically justified only when its nonuse would be significantly more harmful than its use. Similarly, government intervention in the free market is justified only when it ______________.
Which one of the following most logically completes the final sentence above?
A. would likely be approved of by the majority of the affected participants
B. has been shown to have few if any significantly harmful effects
C. is believed unlikely to significantly exacerbate any existing problems
D. would do less damage than would result from the government’s not intervening
E. provides a solution to some otherwise insoluble problem
D. would do less damage than would result from the government’s not intervening
Birds and mammals can be infected with West Nile virus only through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes, in turn, become infected with the virus when they bite certain infected birds or mammals. The virus was originally detected in northern Africa and spread to North America in the 1990s. Humans sometimes catch West Nile virus, but the virus never becomes abundant enough in human blood to infect a mosquito
The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following?
A.West Nile virus will never be a common disease among humans.
B.West Nile virus is most common in those parts of North America with the highest density of mosquitoes.
C. Some people who become infected with West Nile virus never show symptoms of illness.
D.West Nile virus infects more people in northern Africa than it does in North America.
E. West Nile virus was not carried to North America via an infected person.
E. West Nile virus was not carried to North America via an infected person.
How many total sections of the LSAT are there
4 --> 3 out of 4 scored
a type of logical reasoning or reading comprehension question that asks you to find an answer choice 100% proven by the facts in the stimulus
What is a must be true question
a prompt that stands alone with its own short passage and multiple-choice question
What is a single question?
Does the position of a car driver’s seat have a significant impact on driving safety? It probably does. Driving position affects both comfort and the ability to see the road clearly. A driver who is uncomfortable eventually becomes fatigued, which makes it difficult to concentrate on the road. Likewise, the better the visibility from the driver’s seat, the more aware the driver can be of road conditions and other vehicles.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that driving position affects both comfort and the ability to see the road clearly?
A. It is the conclusion drawn in the argument
B. It is a claim that the argument shows to be inconsistent with available evidence.
C. It is used to provide a causal explanation for an observed phenomenon.
D. It describes evidence that the argument ultimately refutes.
E. It is a premise offered in support of the conclusion drawn in the argument.
E. It is a premise offered in support of the conclusion drawn in the argument.
In trying to reduce the amount of fat in their diet, on average people have decreased their consumption of red meat by one-half in the last two decades. However, on average those who have reduced their consumption of red meat actually consume substantially more fat than those who have not.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy described above?
A. Many more people have reduced their consumption of red meat over the last two decades than have not.
B. Higher prices over the last two decades have done as much to decrease the consumption of red meat as health concerns have.
C. People who reduce their consumption of red meat tend to consume as much of other foods that are high in fat as do those who have not reduced their consumption of red meat.
D. People who reduce their consumption of red meat tend to replace it with cheese and baked goods, which are richer in fat than red meat.
E. Studies have shown that red meat contains slightly less fat than previously thought.
D. People who reduce their consumption of red meat tend to replace it with cheese and baked goods, which are richer in fat than red meat.
How many times can you take the LSAT?
5 times per reportable score period, 7 total over a lifetime