LSAT Logical Reasoning : LSAT Logical Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for LSAT Logical Reasoning
All LSAT Logical Reasoning Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Parallel Reasoning
Few people have ever seen the initiation rituals of the secret society, as its leadership believes that if anyone reports these deep mysteries then the society will cease to have an attraction.
The reasoning used by the secret society’s leadership is most closely paralleled by __________.
a government agency designating specific documents as classified material
a criminal organization threatening any members who reveal information to law enforcement
a company enforcing a non-disclosure agreement about its new products
a production company not committing itself to any specific future projects
a magician not revealing how tricks are performed in order to keep attracting an audience
a magician not revealing how tricks are performed in order to keep attracting an audience
The secret society keeps its rituals secret, as do all of the other examples given in the answer choices; however, the secret society fosters this secrecy in the hope that it will attract more people to its ranks. This is most similar to a magician keeping secrets in order to attract an audience.
Example Question #6 : Parallel Reasoning
Poet: True sincerity is spoken from the heart, without filters. This form of expression contrasts sharply with what is (sadly) the more common way of speaking: a manner in which communication is made to create a comfortable situation, rather than to speak the truth.
Which of the following individuals best embodies the message that the poet is conveying?
A mother, worried that her son will not earn good grades if he does not start studying, tells him, “If you want to get into college, you really need to start doing your homework.”
A piano teacher, aggravated at his pupil’s refusal to practice, vents to a colleague that the pupil’s lack of motivation has caused him to feel utterly unmotivated as well.
A student, frustrated with the classroom preparation that she was given to tackle a problem set, respectfully tells her professor that she feels that she was not adequately instructed on the material necessary for her to complete her assignment.
A writer, outraged that no publishing house has yet agreed to publish his manuscript, sends an angry email to his agent in order to release his frustrations. The writer’s email accuses the agent of not advocating on his behalf with enough zeal.
While a husband is out with his wife, he wants her to feel loved and appreciated. He tells her in complete honesty that from the moment he saw her, he thought she was stunning and had felt immediately drawn to her.
A piano teacher, aggravated at his pupil’s refusal to practice, vents to a colleague that the pupil’s lack of motivation has caused him to feel utterly unmotivated as well.
The piano teacher speaks with the most sincerity because he does not speak with any filters, and has no reason to edit what he says.
The other answer choices are incorrect for the following reasons:
- There is no evidence in this answer choice that the writer said anything that was sincere in his email; all that we know is that he was releasing his frustration.
- The student does not channel completely unfiltered sincerity given the fact that she is making an effort to “respectfully” communicate her frustrations to her professor. She therefore is using filters in her communication with him.
- The mother is trying to pressure her son to study; she is not expressing her true feelings that she is worried he will not earn good grades.
- Athough the husband is speaking in part from the heart, he is also speaking with the motivation to make his wife happy. This therefore does not comport with the poet’s philosophy.
Example Question #211 : Lsat Logical Reasoning
The local ice cream shop decided to stop offering cappucino-flavored ice cream to its customers. Anna was disappointed by this decision, because cappucino was her favorite ice cream flavor. Therefore, the local ice cream shop intentionally disappointed Anna.
The flawed reasoning above most closely resembles the reasoning in which of the following arguments:
The lightning caused the power to go out, and the power outage caused the meat in the refrigerator to spoil. Therefore, the lightning caused the meat in the refrigerator to spoil.
Becca intentionally planted her flowers in the sun. Unfortunately, these particular flowers prefer shade, so the intense sunlight killed the flowers. Therefore, Becca intentionally killed her flowers.
Laura knows that Dungeness Crab is caught in Humboldt Bay, and that Humboldt Bay is in Northern California. Therefore Laura should know that dungeness crab is caught in Northern California.
The treatment plant increased the chlorine in the water, and whatever increased the chlorine in the water is responsible for the decrease in the frog population. Therefore, the treatment plant is responsible for the decrease in the frog population.
Brittany stole 12.00 from Lindsey and bet it in Vegas. Then Brittany won 200.00 in Vegas. Therefore, Brittany actually stole 200.00 from Lindsey.
Becca intentionally planted her flowers in the sun. Unfortunately, these particular flowers prefer shade, so the intense sunlight killed the flowers. Therefore, Becca intentionally killed her flowers.
The flawed argument states that performing an intentional act led to a certain consequence, and draws the incorrect conclusion that the consequence itself was therefore intended. Similarly, the correct answer choice confuses an intentional act that resulted in a negative consequence with the intent to bring about that consequence.
Example Question #12 : Determining Which Answer Uses Parallel Reasoning To The Argument Provided
Every successful business has a smart CEO or good customer service. The CEO at John's company is not smart, so the company's customer service must be good.
Which of the following most closely resembles the flawed logic exemplified above?
Every famous athlete has immense talent or a good sports agent. Henry's brother plays baseball and has immense talent, so he must have a good sports agent.
Every famous athlete has immense talent or a good sports agent. Henry's brother plays baseball and has a good sports agent, so he must have immense talent.
Every famous athlete has immense talent or a good sports agent. Henry's brother plays baseball. He is not talented, so he must not have a good sports agent.
Every famous athlete has immense talent or a good sports agent. Henry's brother plays baseball and has immense talent, so he must be a famous athlete.
Every famous athlete has immense talent or a good sports agent. Henry's brother plays baseball but is not talented, so he must have a good sports agent.
Every famous athlete has immense talent or a good sports agent. Henry's brother plays baseball but is not talented, so he must have a good sports agent.
The passage states, "Every successful business has a smart CEO or good customer service." It says nothing, however, about whether John's company is successful. Therefore, we can't reasonably deduce that it has good customer service just because the CEO isn't smart.
Similarly, we know that Henry's brother plays baseball, but not that he is a famous athlete. Therefore, just because he does not have talent does not mean that he has a good sports agent.
Example Question #11 : Determining Which Answer Uses Parallel Reasoning To The Argument Provided
Every successful marriage is built upon trust and compassion. Daniel and Beth do not have a successful marriage. Clearly, they do not trust each other.
Which of the following most closely resembles the flawed reasoning outlined above?
All skyscrapers have a solid foundation and are designed with classical architectural styles. This building is not a skyscraper. It was not designed with a classical architectural style.
All skyscrapers have a solid foundation and are designed with classical architectural styles. This building was constructed with a modernist design. It must not be a skyscraper.
All skyscrapers have a solid foundation and are designed with classical architectural styles. This building has a classical architectural style. It must have a solid foundation.
All skyscrapers have a solid foundation and are designed with classical architectural styles. This building is not a skyscraper. It must not have a solid foundation.
All skyscrapers have a solid foundation and are designed with classical architectural styles.
All skyscrapers have a solid foundation and are designed with classical architectural styles. This building is not a skyscraper. It must not have a solid foundation.
The reasoning in the passage is flawed because it presumes to know which (if either) of the necessary conditions is not satisfied in order for the marriage to be unsuccessful.
Similarly, just because the building does not qualify as a skyscraper does not mean that we know that its foundation is unstable.
Example Question #212 : Lsat Logical Reasoning
All limes are green. Therefore, any fruit that is green is a lime. If a person sees a fruit that is green, that person may assume that the fruit is a lime.
Which of the following most closely parallels the flawed reasoning above?
Immigration courts have more liberal views. Therefore, liberal views are only expressed by immigration courts. Therefore, if a person encounters an immigration court, that person can assume that the court will have a liberal view.
Liberal views are often expressed in immigration courts. Therefore, if a person encounters a liberal view, it is likely that the view was expressed in an immigration court.
Immigration courts adopt more liberal views. Therefore, any court that adopts a more liberal view is an immigration court. If a person encounters a court that has a more liberal view, that person may assume that the court is an immigration court.
Liberal views are expressed in immigration courts. Therefore, immigration courts are liberal. If a person encounters a liberal view, that person can assume that the view was expressed in an immigration court.
Immigration courts tend to adopt more liberal views. Therefore, if a person encounters a conservative view, it is unlikely that the view was expressed in an immigration court.
Immigration courts adopt more liberal views. Therefore, any court that adopts a more liberal view is an immigration court. If a person encounters a court that has a more liberal view, that person may assume that the court is an immigration court.
The flawed reasoning in the text is as follows:
X has trait Y. Therefore, anything with trait Y must be X. If a person encounters something with trait Y, then it must be X.
The correct answer properly reflects this reasoning. All the other answer choices do not properly follow this pattern: they may leave out a link of the causal reasoning or misconstruct it.
Example Question #213 : Lsat Logical Reasoning
Paul: The U.S. should prohibit deer hunting for at least ten years. If the deer population continues to decrease, other species will be affected, which would harm industries in various parts of the country.
Lisa: While I believe that hunting is cruel, the only way to protect drivers from deer is to hunt them. Humans should be valued above deer and industries.
Paul and Lisa are most likely to agree that
Hunting should be prohibited in order to protect various species
Deer hunting should be permitted only if there is no other available means of protecting drivers
Hunting deer is cruel
Deer pose an unacceptable danger to drivers
Deer hunting harms U.S. industry
Deer hunting harms U.S. industry
Both people have different reasons for objecting to hunting deer. They also disagree about whether deer hunting should be prohibited. Both, however, agree that deer hunting may harm industry.
Example Question #214 : Lsat Logical Reasoning
Roger: The only reason diesel cars are not commonly used in the United States is that people believe they are more costly to fuel and maintain than gasoline cars. Fueling diesel cars is less expensive than fueling gasoline cars because they get many more miles per gallon. Diesel cars also last many more years. While other countries transition to diesel, the United States follows a myth.
Tamara: Many people in the United states do not even know that purchasing a diesel car is an option. Others may choose to purchase a gasoline car because they overemphasize the purchase price difference.
Roger and Tamara most likely disagree about which of the following?
Diesel cars last many more years than gasoline cars
Diesel cars should be used more often than they are
Diesel cars are more costly than gasoline cars
There is a purchase price difference between diesel and gasoline cars
Diesel cars are not commonly used in the United States because people believe they are more costly to operate than gasoline cars
Diesel cars are not commonly used in the United States because people believe they are more costly to operate than gasoline cars
Roger asserts that incorrect beliefs are the only reason people do not drive diesel cars. Tamara directly counters that assertion by presenting several alternative reasons for why diesel cars are not used.
Example Question #215 : Lsat Logical Reasoning
The spiritual basketball coach encourages his players to practice Zen meditation techniques only when facing difficult opponents. These meditation techniques are a more highly disciplined form of the ritual meditation that the coach has his players practice on a regular basis prior to games and involves unique practices such as chanting and fasting.
Which one of the statements below does NOT follow logically from the passage above?
The ritual daily meditation does not involve chanting and fasting.
The coach has his players meditate in preparation for facing their opponents.
Some meditation practices are less disciplined than Zen meditation.
The ritual daily meditation that the players practice is largely undisciplined.
The coach believes that mediation benefits his players.
The ritual daily meditation that the players practice is largely undisciplined.
The author states that there are differences between Zen meditation and the meditation that the coach has his players practice on a regular basis. This question asks for the answer choice that cannot be inferred or is not stated in the passage. The only answer choice that does not logically flow and is not a valid inference is: “The ritual daily mediation that the players practice is largely undisciplined.” The author only implies that the daily meditation is less disciplined than Zen meditation; and not necessarily an undisciplined practice.
Example Question #216 : Lsat Logical Reasoning
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are much more cost-effective than vehicles powered by traditional gasoline engines. These hybrid vehicles cost only twice as much as gasoline vehicles in the same class, but consume only 1/10 of the gasoline while traveling an equal distance. Despite hybrid manufacturers’ exhaustive efforts to publicize the advantages of plug-in hybrid vehicles, industry analysts predict that these hybrid vehicles will sell poorly.
Each of the following, if true, provides support for the industry analysts’ prediction EXCEPT:
A foreign automaker is about to reveal a vehicle powered exclusively by solar technology that costs less than a gasoline vehicle in the same class.
Plug-in hybrids only come in pastel body colors, colors that most people find unappealing.
Most car purchasers focus on the short-term sticker price of the vehicle rather than the long-term savings from fuel economy.
A car manufacturer of vehicles powered exclusively by gasoline engines has launched an advertising campaign claiming that the cost of charging a plug-in hybrid vehicle costs more than filling the tank of a gasoline vehicle.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles will come with financing plans that are not provided for traditional gasoline vehicles.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles will come with financing plans that are not provided for traditional gasoline vehicles.
This EXCEPT question is looking for the one answer choice that does not support the prediction that plug-in hybrid vehicles will sell poorly. The answer choice: “Plug-in hybrid vehicles will come with financing plans that are not provided for traditional gasoline vehicles” will either have no effect or a positive effect on the sales of plug-in vehicles. In either scenario, the answer choice does not support the argument and is the correct answer choice. All the other answer choices support the argument.
All LSAT Logical Reasoning Resources
