LSAT 16 – Section 2 – Question 02

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September 1995

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve This gives you an idea of how this question is “curved”— in other words, what level of scorer is likely to get this question right. It shows a model of scaled LSAT score vs probability of getting the question correct. It is based on student test results for each question. The gray bar extends from the score for a 25% chance, to the score for a 75% chance of getting the question correct. The black line in the middle is the score for a 50% chance of getting the question correct. The percentage at the right is the expected chance of someone with the same score as you on that PrepTest getting that question correct	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation

Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve This gives you an idea of how this question is “curved”— in other words, what level of scorer is likely to get this question right. It shows a model of scaled LSAT score vs probability of getting the question correct. It is based on student test results for each question. The gray bar extends from the score for a 25% chance, to the score for a 75% chance of getting the question correct. The black line in the middle is the score for a 50% chance of getting the question correct. The percentage at the right is the expected chance of someone with the same score as you on that PrepTest getting that question correct	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT16 S2 Q02	+LR	Weaken +Weak	A 85% 168 B 1% 144 C 1% 149 D 5% 159 E 8% 160	138 148 158	+Medium	146.82 +SubsectionMedium

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Here we have a weakening question, as the stem asks: Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the patent reviewers’ argument?

Our stimulus begins with some context about a patent application for a genetically engineered lab mouse that got denied. In support of their decision, the patent reviewers argued that the mouse was a new variety of animal and they aren’t allowed to approve patents for new animal varieties. This argument is a case of rule application, a conditional rule (new animal variety → no patent) is used to justify a particular conclusion (no patent for the lab mouse). It is important to note that we have not been given an explanation of what makes an animal a new variety. We know the mouse has been genetically engineered, but not whether this means it really is a new variety. That the mouse is a new variety is an assumption upon which the reviewers’ argument depends. Since there are many ways to weaken an argument, we can’t assume that this assumption will play a role in the correct answer, but we should take note of it regardless. Let’s look at the answer choices.

Correct Answer Choice (A) This answer choice completely undermines the reviewers’ argument. If the new variety rule only applies to farm animals, than it can’t be used to support denying the laboratory mouse patent.

Answer Choice (B) Who cares? This answer choice is completely irrelevant to the patent reviewers’ decision and reasoning.

Answer Choice (C) All this tells us is that the patent reviewers are consistent in their application of the rule. It does nothing to undermine their reasoning for why the rule supports denying the lab mouse patent.

Answer Choice (D) The rule that the reviewers’ cited as their reason specifically applies to animal varieties. It is entirely consistent with their reasoning that they would approve patents which don’t violate the rule. D is incorrect.

Answer Choice (E) Similar to C this just gives us some extra context that the patent reviewers have consistently applied the rule to past animal varieties. What we want is a reason why the rule shouldn’t apply to the lab mouse, which A gives us.

LSAT 16 – Section 2 – Question 02

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LSAT PrepTest 16 Explanations

Section 1 - Logic Games

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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