LSAT 148 – Section 4 – Question 01

LSAT 148 - Section 4 - Question 01

December 2016

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT148 S4 Q01
+LR
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Sampling +Smpl
Link Assumption +LinkA
Analogy +An
A
93%
163
B
4%
156
C
2%
154
D
0%
152
E
0%
142
128
137
146
 +Easier 147.694 +SubsectionMedium

Community organizer: Before last year’s community cleanup, only 77 of the local residents signed up to participate, but then well over 100 actually participated. This year, 85 residents have signed up to participate. Since our community cleanup will be a success if we have at least 100 participants, we can be confident that this year’s cleanup will be a success.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that this year’s cleanup will be a success. This is based on the fact that if we get at least 100 participants, then the cleanup will be a success. In addition, this year, 85 residents signed up to participate. Last year, only 77 signed up to participate, but over 100 actually participated.

Identify and Describe Flaw
The author assumes that, since last year’s actual turnout was higher than the number who signed up, this year’s actual turnout will also be higher than the number who signed up. This overlooks the possibility that what happened last year won’t happen this year.

A
generalizes about the outcome of an event based on a single observation of a similar situation
The premises describe a single observation of a similar situation (last year’s turnout exceeded the # who signed up). But this doesn’t prove anything about the turnout this year.
B
takes for granted that people who participated in last year’s cleanup will participate this year
The author doesn’t assume that the same people will participate. The argument is just about the number of people who will participate; those people can be different from participants in the past.
C
confuses a condition that is required for an outcome with one that is sufficient for that outcome
There is no condition required for an outcome. We do have a premise telling us that having at least 100 participants is sufficient for the outcome of success. The author doesn’t think having at least 100 participants is necessary for success.
D
overlooks the possibility that the cleanup will attract participants who are not residents in the community
This possibility doesn’t weaken the argument. The cleanup will be a success if it gets at least 100 participants. We have no reason to think where those participants live has any impact on the reasoning.
E
defines a term in such a way as to ensure that whatever the outcome, it will be considered a positive outcome
The author doesn’t define any terms. The author uses a conditional that establishes if we get at least 100 participants, the cleanup will be a success. This is not a “definition” of success. Also, the author doesn’t assume the outcome of the cleanup must be positive.

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LSAT PrepTest 148 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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