LSAT 113 - Section 4 - Question 07

March 11, 2014

Hazel: Faster and more accurate order processing would help our business. To increase profits, we should process orders electronically rather than manually, because customers’ orders will then go directly to all relevant parties.

Max: We would lose money if we started processing orders electronically. Most people prefer to interact with human beings when placing orders. If we switch to electronic order processing, our business will appear cold and inhuman, and we will attract fewer customers.

Speaker 1 Summary
Hazel concludes that we should process orders electronically rather than manually in order to increase profits. This is because an electronic process would allow customers’ orders to go directly to the relevant people, which will lead to faster and more accurate order processing.

Speaker 2 Summary
Max concludes that we would lose money if we used electronic order processing. This is because most people prefer to interact with humans when placing orders, and using an electronic system will make the business appear cold and human. This will lead to fewer customers.

Objective
We’re looking for a point of disagreement. The speakers disagree about whether an electronic order processing system would help the business make money. Hazel thinks it would. Max thinks it wouldn’t.

A
electronic order processing is faster and more accurate than is manual order processing
Max doesn’t express an opinion. He thinks electronic processing will be less attractive to customers, but that doesn’t mean he thinks it’s not faster and more accurate than manual processing.
B
faster and more accurate order processing would be financially beneficial to their business
Max doesn’t express an opinion. He thinks electronic processing will make the business lose money, but that doesn’t mean he thinks faster and more accurate order processing will hurt the business. He might think a different process that’s faster and more accurate would help.
C
switching to electronic order processing would be financially beneficial to their business
This is a point of disagreement. Hazel thinks switching would help the business make money. Max thinks switching will make the business lose money.
D
their business has an obligation to be as profitable as possible
Neither speaker expresses an opinion. Although both seem to want the business to make money, that doesn’t imply a belief about an obligation to make the most profit possible. What if there’s a limit to how much money a business should make? We don’t know what they think.
E
electronic order processing would appear cold and inhuman to most of their customers
Hazel doesn’t express an opinion. She doesn’t comment on whether customers will think electronic processing appears cold and inhuman. Although she does think electronic processing will make more money, that doesn’t imply a belief about the potential cold and inhuman appearance.

1 comment

LSAT 113 - Section 4 - Question 08

March 11, 2014

Commentator: In the new century, only nations with all the latest electronic technology will experience great economic prosperity. The people in these nations will be constantly bombarded with images of how people in other countries live. This will increase their tendency to question their own customs and traditions, leading to a dissolution of those customs and traditions. Hence, in the new century, the stability of a nation’s cultural identity will likely _______.

Summary

In the future, only nations with the newest technology will experience economic prosperity. The people in these nations will be bombarded with images showing how people in other nations live. This will cause people in prosperous nations to question their own traditions, which will lead to a dissolution of those traditions.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

Hence, the stability of a nation’s cultural identity will likely decrease if that nation is economically prosperous.

A
depend on a just distribution of electronic technology among all nations

A just or equitable distribution of technology plays no role in our causal chain of events. We only know that a nation generally possessing the latest technology will set off the causal chain of events.

B
decrease if that nation comes to have a high level of economic wealth

A nation having a high level of economic wealth results in a causal chain of events leading to dissolution of that nation’s customs and traditions.

C
be ensured by laws that protect the customs and traditions of that culture

We don’t know if laws will be enacted to protect the traditions of these nations.

D
be threatened only if the people of that culture fail to acquire the latest technical skills

We don’t know whether there’s only one way in which a nation’s cultural identity is threatened. We know possessing the latest technology is one way, but there could be various other ways as well.

E
be best maintained by ensuring gradual assimilation of new technical knowledge and skills

We don’t know if this is the best way to maintain a nation’s cultural identity. We also don’t know whether gradual introduction of technology will lessen its effects.


13 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 4 - Question 10

March 11, 2014

Lydia: Red squirrels are known to make holes in the bark of sugar maple trees and to consume the trees’ sap. Since sugar maple sap is essentially water with a small concentration of sugar, the squirrels almost certainly are after either water or sugar. Water is easily available from other sources in places where maple trees grow, so the squirrels would not go to the trouble of chewing holes in trees just to get water. Therefore, they are probably after the sugar.

Galina: It must be something other than sugar, because the concentration of sugar in the maple sap is so low that a squirrel would need to drink an enormous amount of sap to get any significant amount of sugar.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
Lydia concludes that red squirrels are probably after the sugar in sugar maple tree sap. To support her claim, Lydia reasons that water is easily available from other sources, so the squirrels would not chew holes into trees just to get water.

Describe Method of Reasoning
Lydia concludes a hypothesis for a phenomenon she has observed. She does this by eliminating alternative hypotheses. Lydia reasons that if sugar tree sap is essentially water with sugar, and water is easily available from other nearby sources, then the squirrels are probably after the sugar content of the sap.

A
dismissing potentially disconfirming data
Lydia does not dismiss any data from consideration. Lydia dismisses an alternative hypothesis for the phenomenon of red squirrels consuming sugar maple tree sap.
B
citing a general rule of which the conclusion is a specific instance
Lydia does not apply her hypothesis to a specific instance. Her argument is stated generally and theoretically.
C
presenting an observed action as part of a larger pattern of behavior
Lydia does not address a larger pattern of behavior. We cannot assume that since the squirrels chew holes into certain trees that this action is part of a larger pattern.
D
drawing an analogy between well-understood phenomena and an unexplained phenomenon
Lydia does not draw an analogy to support her claims.
E
rejecting a possible alternative explanation for an observed phenomenon
The observed phenomena is the squirrels chewing holes to consume tree sap. The alternative explanation Lydia rejects is the explanation that the squirrels are after the water content of the sap.

12 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 4 - Question 02

March 11, 2014

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is found inside the noses of various animals. While its structural development and function are clearer in other animals, most humans have a VNO that is detectable, though only microscopically. When researchers have been able to stimulate VNO cells in humans, the subjects have reported experiencing subtle smell sensations. It seems, then, that the VNO, though not completely understood, is a functioning sensory organ in most humans.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that the vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a functioning sensory organ in most humans. This is based on the fact that humans reported experiencing subtle smell sensations when researchers their stimulated VNO cells.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that it was the stimulation of the VNO cells that caused the smell sensations, and not some other impact of the actions taken by the researcher. The information given discusses a correlation between stimulation of VNO cells and experiencing smell sensations, and the author is assuming a causal relationship from this correlation. The author is also assuming that the test subjects actually experienced the subtle smell sensations that they reported experiencing.

A
It is not known whether the researchers succeeded in stimulating only VNO cells in the human subjects’ noses.
(A) weakens the argument because it introduces the possibility of an alternative hypothesis that some other factor, not the VNO cells, was responsible for the smell sensations that the test subjects experienced.
B
Relative to its occurrence in certain other animals, the human VNO appears to be anatomically rudimentary and underdeveloped.
“Rudimentary” and “underdeveloped” does not mean nonfunctional.
C
Certain chemicals that play a leading role in the way the VNO functions in animals in which it is highly developed do not appear to play a role in its functioning in humans.
It could be the case that the VNO functions differently in other animals and in humans––the human VNO could rely on other chemicals.
D
Secondary anatomical structures associated with the VNO in other animals seem to be absent in humans.
We do not know if these secondary anatomical structures are necessary in the function of the VNO; the human VNO could have different secondary structures or could function without these secondary structures.
E
For many animal species, the VNO is thought to subtly enhance the sense of smell.
The fact that the VNO produces subtle smell sensations in animals does not weaken the argument that the VNO does something similar in humans––this may give an additional reason to believe the argument.

15 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 4 - Question 01

March 11, 2014

Criminals often have an unusual self-image. Embezzlers often think of their actions as “only borrowing money.” Many people convicted of violent crimes rationalize their actions by some sort of denial; either the victim “deserved it” and so the action was justified, or “it simply wasn’t my fault.” Thus, in many cases, by criminals’ characterization of their situations, _______.

Summary
Criminals often have an unusual self-image. For example, embezzlers think of their actions as borrowing money, and violent criminals think the victim “deserved it” or it wasn’t their fault.

Strongly Supported Conclusions
Thus, in many cases, by criminals’ characterization of their situations, their actions are not necessarily criminal.

A
they ought to be rewarded for their actions
This answer is unsupported. The criminals are making excuses for themselves, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they also think they should be rewarded.
B
they are perceived to be the victim of some other criminal
This answer is unsupported. The criminals are making excuses for themselves, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they think of themselves as a victim.
C
their actions are not truly criminal
This answer is strongly supported. The criminals are making excuses for their behavior, therefore they think their behavior is not necessarily criminal.
D
the criminal justice system is inherently unfair
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know anything about the criminal justice system from the stimulus.
E
they deserve only a light sentence for their crimes
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know anything about sentencing from the stimulus.

8 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 2 - Question 16

March 11, 2014

Media consultant: Electronic media are bound to bring an end to the institution of the traditional school in our culture. This is because the emergence of the traditional school, characterized by a group of students gathered with a teacher in a classroom, was facilitated by the availability of relatively inexpensive printed books. Currently, however, the function of books in communicating information is gradually being taken over by electronic media. So, it is inevitable that the traditional school will not survive in our culture.

Summarize Argument

The media consultant concludes that electronic media will bring an end to traditional schools. He supports this by saying that the availability and affordability of printed books helped to bring about traditional schools, and that electronic media is now fulfilling the purpose of books in communicating information.

Identify and Describe Flaw

The media consultant assumes that, because having books helped to start traditional schools, not having books (because they’re being replaced by electronic media) will end traditional schools. The problem is that he never actually showed that books are necessary to traditional schools. Just because books helped these schools emerge doesn’t mean that they’re necessary for the schools to continue to exist in the future.

A
presupposes as a premise what it is trying to establish

This is the cookie-cutter flaw of “circular reasoning,” where the premise is simply a restatement of the conclusion. The media consultant doesn’t make this mistake. His premises are distinct from his conclusion, even though they don’t support it well.

B
relies inappropriately on expert testimony

The media consultant doesn’t mention any experts at all, so he can’t inappropriately rely on their testimony.

C
presupposes that just because something can happen it will happen

The media consultant concludes that traditional schools will be eliminated, but he doesn’t do so on the basis that they can be eliminated. In fact, he never actually proves that they can be eliminated. So, (C) can’t describe the flaw in his argument.

D
mistakes something that enables an institution to arise for something necessary to the institution

The media consultant assumes that just because books enabled traditional schools to arise, they must be necessary to traditional schools. But maybe these schools can carry on just fine, even though electronic media are fulfilling the role of books in communicating information.

E
confuses the value of an institution with the medium by which it operates

The media consultant never makes any claims about the value of traditional schools.


50 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 2 - Question 25

March 11, 2014

In a car accident, air bags greatly reduce the risk of serious injury. However, statistics show that cars without air bags are less likely to be involved in accidents than are cars with air bags. Thus, cars with air bags are no safer than cars without air bags.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that cars with air bags are no safer than those without, since cars without air bags are less likely to be in accidents.

Identify and Describe Flaw
The author assumes that cars with air bags are no safer than cars without air bags, simply because they’re more likely to be involved in accidents. However, she overlooks two important points:

(1) How much more likely are cars with air bags to be in accidents?

(2) How serious are the accidents for each type of car? If cars without air bags have fewer accidents but those accidents are more dangerous or fatal, the author can’t assume that cars without air bags are just as safe. Essentially, she treats the likelihood of getting into an accident as equally important as the severity of the accident.

A
assumes, without providing justification, that any car with air bags will probably become involved in an accident
The author doesn’t make this assumption. She claims that cars with air bags are more likely to be involved in accidents, but she never claims that all of them will be involved in accidents.
B
denies the possibility that cars without air bags have other safety features that reduce the risk of serious injury at least as much as do air bags
The author neither addresses nor denies this possibility. Also, she claims that cars without air bags are no less safe than cars with them. So, if anything, she might accept the possibility that they have some other effective safety features.
C
overlooks the possibility that some accidents involve both cars with air bags and cars without air bags
The author admits that both kinds of cars can be involved in accidents; she just says that cars without air bags are less likely to be in them. She never overlooks the possibility that some accidents involve both kinds of cars.
D
assumes, without providing justification, that the likelihood of an accident’s occurring should weigh at least as heavily as the seriousness of any resulting injury in estimates of relative safety
The author assumes that, when estimating the relative safety of a car, the likelihood of getting into an accident is at least as important as the seriousness of any injuries from an accident. But what if cars without air bags have fewer but more fatal accidents?
E
takes for granted that all accidents would cause air bags to be deployed
The author simply doesn’t make this assumption. She claims that cars with air bags are more likely to be in accidents, but she never assumes that all of those accidents would cause the air bags to be deployed.

31 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 2 - Question 21

March 11, 2014

14 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 2 - Question 18

March 11, 2014

Some critics of space exploration programs claim that they are too costly to be justified. Moreover, there is the very real risk of a debilitating explosion—most experts say something like a 1-in-70 chance per flight. Budgetary pressures to make the programs cheaper only serve to undermine safety: one program’s managers uncovered a series of manufacturing flaws that critics contend are a direct consequence of the pressure to produce results as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Summary
Some people say space exploration programs are too costly to be justified. Most experts say there is a real risk of explosion every flight. Efforts to make the programs cheaper undercut safety. For example, one program had several manufacturing flaws, and critics say these were a result of pressures to cut costs.

Strongly Supported Conclusions
Reducing cost for each space flight may lead to another problem of making each flight more dangerous.

A
Attempts to solve one problem can lead to the exacerbation of another problem.
This is strongly supported because the stimulus presents evidence that making a space flight as quickly and cheaply as possible (solving one problem) led to manufacturing flaws (exacerbating another problem).
B
Safety risks are sometimes ignored in the name of scientific progress.
This is unsupported because safety risks are happening due to a desire to cut costs, not a desire to enhance scientific progress.
C
Safety is often sacrificed in order to reach a goal as quickly as possible.
This is unsupported because we don’t know how often these safety sacrifices happen overall. We only know that it can happen.
D
Bureaucratic mistakes can lead to quality reduction and inefficiency.
This is unsupported because we don’t know that any of the reductions in safety happened due to bureaucratic mistakes. They may have happened without mistake simply due to pressures to cut costs.
E
Space exploration is too dangerous to be continued.
This is unsupported because we don’t know at what level of danger space exploration should no longer occur. This is not a value statement that was explored in the stimulus.

36 comments

LSAT 113 - Section 2 - Question 19

March 11, 2014

77 comments

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