Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 04
May 13, 2012Logan: I disagree. Schoolchildren should acquire the fundamental knowledge necessary for future success, and they learn such fundamentals only through disciplined, systematic instruction from accredited teachers.
Speaker 1 Summary
Gaby says that children in school should get to follow their interests, with support from teachers but minimal guidance. In support, Gaby claims that this model of education would enable the children to be most successful as adults.
Speaker 2 Summary
Logan argues that Gaby is wrong; in other words, children should not just follow their interests in school. Why not? Because children should learn fundamental knowledge that they need to succeed in the future. Logan says that this is only possible through disciplined and systematic teaching, which is at odds with freely following various interests.
Objective
We’re looking for a point of disagreement. Gaby and Logan disagree about the best model of education: free exploration or disciplined and systematic instruction.
A
the way in which schoolchildren best acquire fundamental knowledge
Logan thinks that the only way for children to acquire fundamental knowledge is through disciplined and systematic instruction, but Gaby doesn’t disagree. In fact, Gaby doesn’t talk about fundamental knowledge at all.
B
the extent to which teachers should direct schoolchildren’s education
Gaby thinks that teachers should minimally direct education, but Logan thinks they should provide a lot of direction: this is the point of disagreement. Logan doesn’t say this outright, but “disciplined, systematic instruction” indicates a teacher-directed structure.
C
the importance of having qualified teachers involved in schoolchildren’s education
Both speakers indicate that it’s important for qualified teachers to be involved in education. Gaby talks about “experienced” teachers and Logan talks about “accredited” teachers, meaning both of them care about teachers’ qualifications.
D
the sort of school environment that most fosters children’s creativity
Neither speaker talks about creativity. Gaby’s proposal sounds like it might foster creativity, but that’s not a claim Gaby actually makes, just that it will enable success. Likewise, Logan talks about “fundamentals” without mentioning if creativity is included.
E
the extent to which schoolchildren are interested in fundamental academic subjects
Neither speaker talks about whether children are interested in fundamental academic subjects. Gaby talks about letting children follow their interest, and Logan talks about fundamental knowledge, but neither mentions if there’s an overlap between the two.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 05
May 13, 2012Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 06
May 13, 2012
Summary
Nutrient-rich sewage can pollute and overnutrify estuary waters.
Overnutrified estuary waters cause algae to proliferate.
Abundant algae can be a food source for microorganisms that are toxic to fish.
These microorganisms kill most fish in the estuary.
Overnutrified estuary waters cause algae to proliferate.
Abundant algae can be a food source for microorganisms that are toxic to fish.
These microorganisms kill most fish in the estuary.
Very Strongly Supported Conclusions
Abundant algae in an estuary can cause most fish in the estuary to die.
Overnutrified estuary waters can cause most fish in the estuary to die.
Nutrient-rich sewage pollution can cause most fish in an estuary to die.
Overnutrified estuary waters can cause most fish in the estuary to die.
Nutrient-rich sewage pollution can cause most fish in an estuary to die.
A
Fish in an estuary that has been polluted by sewage are generally more likely to die from pollution than are fish in an estuary that has been polluted in some other way.
Unsupported. Nutrient-rich sewage can kill most fish in an estuary, but we don’t know that it’s more likely to than other forms of pollution.
B
In estuary waters that contain abundant algae, microorganisms that are toxic to fish reproduce more quickly than other types of microorganisms.
Unsupported. Abundant algae can be a food source for toxic microorganisms, but we don’t know that it causes toxic microorganisms to reproduce more quickly than other types of microorganisms.
C
Nutrients and other components of sewage do not harm fish in coastal estuaries in any way other than through the resulting proliferation of toxic microorganisms.
Unsupported. Nutrient-rich sewage can harm fish in estuaries by causing algae to grow, which feeds toxic microorganisms. But it might harm fish in other ways too.
D
Algae will not proliferate in coastal estuaries that are not polluted by nutrient-rich sewage.
Unsupported. Overnutrified waters do cause algae to proliferate, but it might proliferate in other conditions too.
E
Overnutrifying estuary waters by sewage can result in the death of most of the fish in the estuary.
Very strongly supported. Overnutrified estuary waters cause algae to proliferate, which can then feed toxic microorganisms that kill most fish in the estuary. So, nutrient-rich sewage pollution can cause the death of most fish in an estuary.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 07
May 13, 2012
Summarize Argument
Archaeologists hypothesize that ancient andacite stones were brought to Tiwanaku on reed boats. As evidence, they point to an experiment where a 9-ton stone was transported from Copacabana to Tiwanaku using a reed boat built with traditional techniques and materials.
Notable Assumptions
The archaeologists assume that the same reed boats that transported a 9-ton stone could’ve also transported a 40-ton stone. The archaeologists also assume that the traditional techniques in question were being used at the time these stones were quarried and transported to Tiwanaku.
A
whether the traditional techniques for building reed boats were in use at the time Tiwanaku was inhabited
If the answer here is yes, then the archaeologists’ argument seems to work: traditional techniques were capable of transporting the stones. If the answer is no, then the archaeologists would need different evidence to show the inhabitants could’ve transported the stones.
B
whether green andacite stones quarried at the time Tiwanaku was inhabited were used at any sites near Copacabana
We don’t care if they were used at nearby sites. Even if they were, they still could’ve been used at Tiwanaku.
C
whether reed boats are commonly used today on the lake
We don’t care about reed boats today. We care about read boats back when the andacite stones were quarried and transported to Tiwanaku.
D
whether the green andacite stones at Tiwanaku are the largest stones at the site
There could be heavier stones that simply weren’t quarried at Copacabana. We don’t care about stones that weren’t quarried at Copacabana.
E
whether the reed boat built for the experimenters is durable enough to remain usable for several years
The inhabitants could’ve kept building new reed boats. We have no reason to think those boats would have to last for several years for the archaeologists’ argument to work.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 08
May 13, 2012
Summarize Argument
The author concludes that we shouldn’t strike now. This is based on the fact that a strike would cause the union to suffer a major financial loss.
Identify and Describe Flaw
The author overlooks the possibility that the benefits of striking would outweigh the impact of the major financial loss.
A
fails to consider that a strike might cause the union to suffer a financial loss even if no fine were imposed
The premise establishes that there would be a major financial loss because of a fine. Whether there would be a financial loss for another reason if the fine were not imposed doesn’t change the fact that there would still be financial loss.
B
fails to define adequately what constitutes a major financial loss
The argument doesn’t need to define what constitutes a major financial loss. The premise establishes there will be a major financial loss; exactly how much money is lost doesn’t affect the reasoning.
C
fails to consider that the benefits to be gained from a strike might outweigh the costs
The author overlooks the possibility that the benefits of striking might outweigh the negative impact of a major financial loss. So striking might be worth doing now, despite that loss.
D
takes for granted that the most important factor in the labor union’s bargaining position is the union’s financial strength
The author doesn’t assume that financial strength is the most important factor in the union’s bargaining position. Although the author does assume that a major financial loss is negative, we don’t know whether it has anything to do with bargaining position.
E
fails to establish that there will be a better opportunity to strike at a later time
The author doesn’t assume that there will be a better opportunity to strike later. The author might believe that the union shouldn’t strike later, too.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 09
May 13, 2012
Summary
Birds and mammals are infected with West Nile virus only through bites from mosquitoes. Mosquitos become infected when they bite infected birds or mammals. The virus was first detected in Africa and spread to North America. Humans can catch West Nile virus, but infected humans cannot infect a mosquito.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Mosquitos infected with West Nile virus have been present in Africa and North America.
Humans are sometimes bitten by mosquitos infected with West Nile virus.
Humans are sometimes bitten by mosquitos infected with West Nile virus.
A
West Nile virus will never be a common disease among humans.
Unsupported. Humans can get the virus from mosquitoes, so they may be bitten by infected mosquitoes in large numbers in the future. There’s no evidence this won’t happen.
B
West Nile virus is most common in those parts of North America with the highest density of mosquitoes.
Unsupported. We know that humans can get West Nile virus, but we don’t know how common the virus is among mosquito populations in North America. Perhaps it’s most common in specific parts without dense mosquito populations.
C
Some people who become infected with West Nile virus never show symptoms of illness.
Unsupported. We don’t know anything about the symptoms of West Nile virus and whether people can have the virus without exhibiting symptoms.
D
West Nile virus infects more people in northern Africa than it does in North America.
Unsupported. We know that the virus was first detected in northern Africa. We don’t know whether that suggests the virus infects more people there than in North America. Maybe there are far fewer people to be infected there? Maybe the virus is more common North America?
E
West Nile virus was not carried to North America via an infected person.
Strongly supported. We know that infected humans cannot infect a mosquito. So, if the virus was found in North America, that means a mosquito must have bitten an infected bird or mammal. Either that mosquito or the infected bird or mammal carried the virus to North America.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 10
May 13, 2012
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why do people who have reduced their consumption of red meat eat, on average, a lot more fat than those who haven’t reduced their consumption of red meat?
Objective
The correct answer will tell us something that allows us to differentiate people who have reduced red meat consumption from those who haven’t, and this difference will lead to greater fat consumption among the people who reduced red meat consumption.
A
Many more people have reduced their consumption of red meat over the last two decades than have not.
The number of people who have reduced red meat consumption has no bearing on the average fat intake of those people. We’re talking about group averages here; the number of people in the group has no effect.
B
Higher prices over the last two decades have done as much to decrease the consumption of red meat as health concerns have.
The cause of reduced red meat consumption has no impact on the average fat intake of people who eat less red meat.
C
People who reduce their consumption of red meat tend to consume as much of other foods that are high in fat as do those who have not reduced their consumption of red meat.
This could be correct if it had said people who reduce red meat consumption eat more high-fat foods than others. But it just says they eat “as much” as others. That doesn’t explain why their average fat intake is higher than that of those who haven’t reduced red meat consumption.
D
People who reduce their consumption of red meat tend to replace it with cheese and baked goods, which are richer in fat than red meat.
This shows why people who reduce consumption of red meat, on average, end up eating more fat. They replace red meat with stuff that has more fat. People who don’t reduce red meat consumption have nothing to replace, so they don’t eat as much of the other higher-fat foods.
E
Studies have shown that red meat contains slightly less fat than previously thought.
We’d still expect people who reduce red meat consumption to reduce their fat intake, even if the expected reduction isn’t as great as we initially thought.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 11
May 13, 2012Tom: No, it isn’t. Its yard isn’t really as big as it looks. Property lines in Prairieview actually start 20 feet from the street. So what looks like part of the yard is really city property.
Rolanda: But that’s true of all the other properties we’ve looked at too!
Summarize Argument
Rolanda starts by concluding that the house on Oak Avenue is the best one to rent. This is because it has a larger yard than any other house they’ve looked at in Prairieview.
Tom concludes that the house on Oak Avenue isn’t the best one to rent. This is based on Tom’s belief that the yard of that house isn’t as big as it looks. Tom’s support for this belief is that property lines in Prairieview start 20 feet from the street; that means what looks like part of the house’s yard is actually part of the city’s property.
Rolanda responds by pointing out that every other property also has its property line start 20 feet from the street.
Identify and Describe Flaw
Tom’s flaw is that he doesn’t realize his point about the property line applies to every property. So he hasn’t shown that the Oak Avenue house isn’t the largest they’ve seen.
A
He fails to take into account the possibility that there are advantages to having a small yard.
Tom doesn’t make any comment about small yards; there’s no indication that his thoughts about small yards have anything to do with why his reasoning is flawed.
B
He presumes, without providing justification, that property that belongs to the city is available for private use.
Tom doesn’t make any claims concerning private use. There’s no indication he has any belief about whether property belonging to the city can be used privately.
C
He improperly applies a generalization to an instance that it was not intended to cover.
There’s no indication that the generalization (the rule about property lines) isn’t supposed to cover the house on Oak Avenue.
D
He fails to apply a general rule to all relevant instances.
Tom fails to apply the general rule (about property lines) to all relevant instances (other houses in Prairieview). Tom’s point is less persuasive because other houses would also have a smaller yard, making the Oak Avenue house still have a larger yard than other houses.
E
He presumes, without providing justification, that whatever is true of a part of a thing is also true of the whole.
Tom doesn’t argue that something true of a part is true of a whole. He applies a rule about measuring property lines to the house on Oak Avenue.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 12
May 13, 2012
Summarize Argument
Jazz consists largely of voicelike horns and hornlike voices. Why the claim about “voicelike horns”? Because jazz horn players mimic the sound of voices by throwing in spontaneous twists and turns, giving their horn playing a voicelike quality. And why the claim about “hornlike voices”? Because the best jazz singers use their own voices in a similar way to how horn players use their horns. As an example of this, take the singer Billie Holiday, who thought of her singing voice as a horn.
Identify Argument Part
The claim referenced in the question stem is the first sentence in the stimulus. It’s a sub-conclusion that’s supported by the example of Billie Holiday, and goes on to support the second assertion made in the main conclusion: jazz consists, in part, of hornlike voices.
A
It is the argument’s main conclusion and is supported by another statement, which is itself supported by a further statement.
It’s not the main conclusion. It lends support to one half of the main conclusion: namely, that jazz consists, in part, of hornlike voices. Because it lends support, it cannot be the main conclusion.
B
It is the argument’s only conclusion, and each of the other statements in the argument is used to support it.
It’s not the argument’s conclusion. It lends support to one half of the conclusion: namely, that jazz consists, in part, of hornlike voices. Because it lends support, it cannot be the argument’s conclusion.
C
It is a statement for which some evidence is provided and which in turn is used to provide support for the argument’s main conclusion.
Accurately describes the statement’s role as a sub-conclusion. The example of Billie Holiday provides some evidence for the claim, and the claim then goes on to help support the main conclusion.
D
It is a statement for which no evidence is provided but which itself is used to support the argument’s only conclusion.
It’s supported by some evidence. The example of Billie Holiday lends support to the idea that the best jazz singers use their voices similarly to how horn players use their instruments.
E
It is a statement used to support a conclusion that in turn is used to support the argument’s main conclusion.
It does not support a sub-conclusion. Instead, it directly supports the main conclusion.
Sign up to star your favorites LSAT 135 - Section 4 - Question 13
May 13, 2012
Summary
The author concludes that reducing class sizes in our district would probably not improve overall student achievement.
Why?
Because reducing class sizes requires hiring more teachers.
There’s already a shortage of qualified teachers in THIS REGION.
Education suffers when teachers are underqualified.
Why?
Because reducing class sizes requires hiring more teachers.
There’s already a shortage of qualified teachers in THIS REGION.
Education suffers when teachers are underqualified.
Notable Assumptions
We can’t attract enough qualified teachers from outside this region to work at our schools.
The benefit students would get from smaller classes does not outweigh the harm to education resulting from teachers who are underqualified.
The benefit students would get from smaller classes does not outweigh the harm to education resulting from teachers who are underqualified.
A
Class sizes in the school district should be reduced only if doing so would improve overall student achievement.
Not necessary, because the argument never argues that something should or should not be done. So it doesn’t need to assume anything about the circumstances necessary for when class sizes “should” be reduced.
B
At least some qualified teachers in the school district would be able to improve the overall achievement of students in their classes if class sizes were reduced.
Not necessary, because if it were not true — if NO qualified teachers would be able to improve overall achievement in their classes if class sizes were reduced — this doesn’t undermine the argument. In fact, it helps support the claim that reducing class sizes would not improve overall student achievement.
C
Students place a greater value on having qualified teachers than on having smaller classes.
What students value has no role in the reasoning of this argument. The argument concerns the effects of making class sizes smaller. We have no reason to think what students value more has any impact on the effects of reducing class sizes.
D
Hiring more teachers would not improve the achievement of any students in the school district if most or all of the teachers hired were underqualified.
Not necessary, because it’s too extreme. The author doesn’t need to assume that underqualified teachers would not improve the achievement of “any students in the school.” Even if they improve the achievement of some students, as long as they don’t improve the overall achievement of the school, the author’s reasoning still stands.
E
Qualified teachers could not be persuaded to relocate in significant numbers to the educator’s region to take teaching jobs.
Necessary, because if it were not true — if qualified teachers COULD be persuaded to relocate in significant number to the educator’s region to take teaching jobs — then the fact that there’s a shortage of qualified teachers in THIS REGION doesn’t necessarily establish that we’ll need to hire underqualified teachers to reduce class sizes. We might be able to hire qualified teachers who move in from other regions.