LSAT-Section-1-Logical-Reasoning – Section One : Logical Reasoning

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Showing 235–237 of 430 questions

Question 235

Bank deposits are credited on the date of the transaction only when they are made before 3 P.M. Alicia knows that the bank deposit was made before 3 p.m. So, Alicia knows that the bank deposit was credited on the date of the transaction.

Which one of the following exhibits both of the logical flaws exhibited by the argument above?

Select an option, then click Submit answer.

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Journalists are the only ones who will be permitted to ask questions at the press conference. Since Marjorie is a journalist, she will be permitted to ask questions.
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We know that Patrice works only on Thursday. Today is Thursday, so it follows that Patrice is working today.
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It is clear that George knows he will be promoted to shift supervisor, because George will be promoted to shift supervisor only if Helen resigns, and George knows Helen will resign.
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John believes that 4 is a prime number and that 4is divisible by 2. Hence John believes that there is a prime number divisible by 2.
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Pat wants to become a social worker. It is well known that social workers are poorly paid. Pat apparently wants to be poorly paid.

Reference / correct answer:

It is clear that George knows he will be promoted to shift supervisor, because George will be promoted to shift supervisor only if Helen resigns, and George knows Helen will resign.

It’s common for one of the usual two Parallel Reasoning questions on each LR section to ask you to mimic the logic of a flawed argument, but here we get two flaws to mirror – and in such a short argument, to boot. The formal logic term “only” denotes necessity, which means that we can interpret the first sentence to mean that if a deposit is credited on the date of the transaction, then it must have been made before 3 P.M. That doesn’t mean that depositing before 3 P.M. is a sure guarantee that it will be credited on that date; it’s necessary for that to happen, but not sufficient – other factors could intervene. So even if Alicia makes a deposit before 3, there’s no guarantee that it will be credited that day; it has simply met a first requirement. So the first flaw is the familiar confusion between necessary and sufficient conditions brought about by a faulty interpretation of the term “only.” Options [John believes that 4 is a prime number and…] and [Pat wants to become a social worker. It is well known that…] have no “only if” components, so they can be axed right away.

Question 236

On the surface, Melville's Billy Budd is a simple story with a simple theme. However, if one views the novel as a religious allegory, then it assumes a richness and profundity that place it among the great novels of the nineteenth century. However, the central question remains: Did Melville intend an allegorical reading? Since there is no textual or historical evidence that he did, we should be content with reading Billy Budd as a simple tragedy.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the principle underlying the argument?

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Given a choice between an allegorical and a nonallegorical reading of a novel, one should choose the latter.
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The only relevant evidence in deciding in which genre to place a novel is the author's stated intention.
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In deciding between rival readings of a novel, one should choose the one that is most favorable to the work.
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Without relevant evidence as to a novel's intended reading, one should avoid viewing the work allegorically.
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The only relevant evidence in deciding the appropriate interpretation of a text is the text itself.

Question 237

Town councillor: The only reason for the town to have ordinances restricting where skateboarding can be done would be to protect children from danger. Skateboarding in the town's River Park is undoubtedly dangerous, but we should not pass an ordinance prohibiting it. If children cannot skateboard in the park, they will most certainly skateboard in the streets. And skateboarding in the streets is more dangerous than skateboarding in the park.

The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the town councilor’s argument

Select an option, then click Submit answer.

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The reason for requiring environmental reviews is to ensure that projected developments do not harm the natural environment. Currently, environmental concerns are less compelling than economic concerns, but in the long run, the environment must be protected. Therefore, the requirement for environmental reviews should not be waived.
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Insecticides are designed to protect crops against insect damage. Aphids damage tomato crops, but using insecticides against aphids kills wasps that prey on insecticide-resistant pests. Since aphids damage tomato crops less than the insecticide-resistant pests do, insecticides should not be used against aphids on tomato crops.
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The purpose of compulsory vaccination for schoolchildren was to protect both the children themselves and others in the community against smallpox. Smallpox was indeed a dreadful disease, but it has now been eliminated from the world's population. So children should not be vaccinated against it.
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The function of a sealer on wood siding is to retard deterioration caused by weather. However, cedar is a wood that is naturally resistant to weather-related damage and thus does not need additional protection. Sealers, therefore, should not be applied to cedar siding.
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Traffic patterns that involve one-way streets are meant to accelerate the flow of traffic in otherwise congested areas. However, it would be detrimental to the South Main Street area to have traffic move faster. So traffic patterns involving one-way streets should not be implemented there.

Reference / correct answer:

Insecticides are designed to protect crops against insect damage. Aphids damage tomato crops, but using insecticides against aphids kills wasps that prey on insecticide-resistant pests. Since aphids damage tomato crops less than the insecticide-resistant pests do, insecticides should not be used against aphids on tomato crops.

The Training Method of comparing conclusions doesn’t allow us to eliminate any choices, as the conclusion of the original and all five choices take the form of a recommendation of what should not be done. So we need to look further. We’re told that skateboarding in the park is dangerous, and if children can’t skateboard there, then they’ll skateboard on the streets, which is more dangerous. Since the reason to pass an ordinance restricting where children skateboard is to protect them from danger, the councillor believes they shouldn’t pass an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding in the park. That logic is certainly ripe for a general paraphrase: Something is bad, but we shouldn’t apply a specific remedy because that will cause a situation that’s worse. Option [Insecticides are designed to protect crops…] hits the nail on the head. Insecticides can protect tomato crops against aphids, but using it will make matters worse (the key concept not found in the other choices) by killing wasps, which themselves kill pests that the insecticides don’t. Since in this particular case it would be safer not to use insecticides (not to pass the ordinance), it shouldn’t be used (shouldn’t be passed).

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