LSAT 121 – Section 1 – Question 01

LSAT 121 - Section 1 - Question 01

December 2005

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT121 S1 Q01
+LR
Weaken +Weak
Causal Reasoning +CausR
A
2%
157
B
0%
151
C
0%
155
D
97%
163
E
0%
170
120
122
135
 +Easiest 145.604 +SubsectionMedium

The effort involved in lying produces measurable physiological reactions such as a speedup of the heartbeat. Since lying is accompanied by physiological reactions, lie-detector tests that can detect these reactions are a sure way of determining when someone is lying.

Summarize Argument
Lie-detector tests that can detect the physiological reactions produced when someone lies are a guaranteed method for determining if someone is lying. This is because when someone lies, corresponding physiological reactions occur.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that the physiological reactions produced by lying are not also triggered by other actions or behaviors. In other words, while lying is a sufficient condition for these physiological reactions, the author assumes it is also a necessary condition.

A
Lie-detector tests can measure only some of the physiological reactions that occur when someone is lying.
This does not affect the argument. The stimulus does not assume that lie-detector tests can measure all the physiological reactions—it assumes that, of the reactions the tests can measure, the tests’ ability to detect them is sufficient for determining if someone is lying.
B
People are often unaware that they are having physiological reactions of the sort measured by lie-detector tests.
This does not affect the argument. People being unaware of their physiological reactions should not affect the ability of the tests to detect these reactions.
C
Lying about past criminal behavior does not necessarily produce stronger physiological reactions than does lying about other things.
This does not affect the argument. The stimulus does not differentiate between the strengths of physiological reactions. As long as the lie-detector tests can detect the reactions, the author argues that they are a sure way of detecting if someone is lying.
D
For people who are not lying, the tension of taking a lie-detector test can produce physiological reactions identical to the ones that accompany the act of lying.
This weakens the argument. It attacks the author’s assumption that lying is the only cause of the physiological reactions. (D) suggests that there are other sufficient conditions that can produce the physiological reactions associated with lying.
E
When employers use lie-detector tests as part of their preemployment screening, some candidates tested are highly motivated to lie.
This does not affect the argument. We have no reason to believe that an individual’s motivation to lie (or lack thereof) should influence their physiological reactions when lying.

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LSAT PrepTest 121 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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