LSAT 109 – Section 4 – Question 09

LSAT 109 - Section 4 - Question 09

December 2000

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT109 S4 Q09
+LR
+Exp
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Link Assumption +LinkA
Eliminating Options +ElimOpt
A
92%
167
B
2%
155
C
2%
156
D
0%
143
E
4%
158
137
145
153
 +Medium 150.49 +SubsectionHarder

Television news coverage gives viewers a sense of direct involvement with current events but does not provide the depth of coverage needed for the significance of those events to be appreciated. Newspapers, on the other hand, provide depth of coverage but no sense of direct involvement. Unfortunately, a full understanding of current events requires both an appreciation of their significance and a sense of direct involvement with them. Therefore, since few people seek out news sources other than newspapers and television, few people ever fully understand current events.

A
treats two things, neither one of which can plausibly be seen as excluding the other, as though they were mutually exclusive
The argument does this. The author relies on the assumption that those who watch TV news coverage of current events don’t also read newspaper coverage of those events, and vice versa. The assumption that watching TV and reading newspapers are mutually exclusive is unfounded.
B
ignores the possibility that people read newspapers or watch television for reasons other than gaining a full understanding of current events
The argument isn’t concerned with whether people watch TV or read newspapers for other reasons. It’s concerned with whether people can be fully informed about current events by watching TV or reading newspapers.
C
makes crucial use of the term “depth of coverage” without defining it
The author isn’t required to define every term he uses, and the term “depth of coverage” isn’t used in an opaque or misleading way.
D
fails to consider the possible disadvantages of having a sense of direct involvement with tragic or violent events
These possible disadvantages are irrelevant. The argument is only concerned with whether watching TV news coverage or reading newspapers allows people to fully understand current events.
E
mistakenly reasons that just because something has the capacity to perform a given function it actually does so
The argument isn’t concerned with whether TV news programs or newspapers always perform certain functions just because they can. The argument is only focused on whether TV coverage or newspapers allow their consumers to fully understand current events.

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LSAT PrepTest 109 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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