LSAT 120 – Section 1 – Question 08

LSAT 120 - Section 1 - Question 08

October 2005

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT120 S1 Q08
+LR
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Lack of Support v. False Conclusion +LSvFC
A
1%
157
B
7%
157
C
0%
150
D
1%
148
E
91%
163
128
138
149
 +Easier 145.819 +SubsectionMedium

Fortune-teller: Admittedly, the claims of some self-proclaimed “psychics” have been shown to be fraudulent, but the exposure of a few charlatans cannot alter the fundamental fact that it has not been scientifically proven that there is no such thing as extrasensory perception (ESP). Furthermore, since the failed attempts to produce such a proof have been so numerous, one must conclude that some individuals do possess ESP.

Summarize Argument
The fortune-teller concludes that some people must possess ESP. Her reasoning is that, despite many attempts to do so, it has not yet been scientifically proven that ESP does not exist.

Identify and Describe Flaw
This is the cookie-cutter flaw of mistaking an unsupported conclusion for a false conclusion. The fortune-teller says that we don’t have enough support to conclude that ESP doesn’t exist. That tells us that ESP could exist, not that it must exist. Future research could prove that ESP doesn’t exist.

A
takes for granted that proof that many people lack a characteristic does not establish that everyone lacks that characteristic
This is valid reasoning, so it can’t be the flaw in the argument.
B
takes for granted that the number of unsuccessful attempts to prove a claim is the only factor relevant to whether one should accept that claim
This can’t be the flaw, because the fortune-teller introduces her citation of the number of attempts as a factor with “furthermore.” This indicates that the previous sentence provided a distinct factor (namely, that ESP has not been scientifically disproven).
C
overlooks the possibility that some of the scientific studies mentioned reached inaccurate conclusions about whether ESP exists
There’s no particular reason to think that the scientific studies reached inaccurate conclusions.
D
takes for granted that there is no scientific way to determine whether some individuals possess ESP
This can’t be the flaw, since the author doesn’t take it for granted. If anything, she seems to not believe this, because she acknowledges that it has been proven that some self-proclaimed psychics are frauds.
E
takes for granted that the fact that a claim has not been demonstrated to be false establishes that it is true
The fortune-teller alleges that it has not yet been proven that a conclusion (the existence of ESP) is false, so therefore it must be true. But this is a mistake; future investigation could show that ESP doesn’t exist.

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LSAT PrepTest 120 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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