LSAT 120 – Section 4 – Question 19

LSAT 120 - Section 4 - Question 19

October 2005

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT120 S4 Q19
+LR
+Exp
Except +Exc
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Sampling +Smpl
A
4%
155
B
3%
155
C
3%
154
D
68%
163
E
23%
159
141
153
164
 +Harder 146.628 +SubsectionMedium

Fishing columnist: When an independent research firm compared the five best-selling baits, it found that Benton baits work best for catching trout. It asked a dozen top anglers to try out the five best-selling baits as they fished for speckled trout in a pristine northern stream, and every angler had the most success with a Benton bait. These results show that Benton is the best bait for anyone who is fishing for trout.

Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The columnist concludes that Benton is the best bait for anyone who is fishing for trout. Why? Because an independent research firm found it to be the best of the 5 top-selling baits in an experiment. The experiment was conducted by top anglers who fished for speckled trout in a pristine northern stream.

Identify and Describe Flaw
This is the cookie-cutter flaw of making a hasty generalization. The columnist concludes that Benton baits are universally the best for catching trout. But his basis for doing so is an experiment that only measures the five top-selling baits, only tests them in a pristine stream with top anglers, and only attempts to catch speckled trout.

A
The argument overlooks the possibility that some other bait is more successful than any of the five best-selling baits.
The test cited by the columnist only examined the five best-selling baits. A less popular bait could be more effective—which would undermine the conclusion.
B
The argument overlooks the possibility that what works best for expert anglers will not work best for ordinary anglers.
The test cited by the columnist was conducted by expert anglers. If ordinary anglers differ from experts, we can’t be sure the results will apply to them.
C
The argument overlooks the possibility that the relative effectiveness of different baits changes when used in different locations.
The test cited by the columnist only examined a pristine northern stream—results might different in non-pristine, non-northern streams.
D
The argument overlooks the possibility that two best-selling brands of bait may be equally effective.
The columnist does consider this possibility: the test compared the five best-selling brands of bait.
E
The argument overlooks the possibility that baits that work well with a particular variety of fish may not work well with other varieties of that fish.
The test cited by the columnist only examined speckled trout. Bait efficacy might differ for other varieties of trout.

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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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