Section Types Logical Reasoning

In a recent study, a group of young children were taught the word “stairs” while walking up and down a flight of stairs. Later that day, when the children were shown a video of a person climbing a ladder, they all called the ladder stairs.

Summary

A study examined a group of children who were taught the word “stairs” while walking up and down stairs. The children were later shown a video of someone climbing a ladder. All the children referred to the ladder as stairs.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

Children who learned to associate a word with an activity may erroneously associate the same word with a similar-looking activity.

A

When young children repeatedly hear a word without seeing the object denoted by the word, they sometimes apply the word to objects not denoted by the word.

This is unsupported because the children in the study saw the object denoted by the word as they were walking up and down stairs.

B

Young children best learn words when they are shown how the object denoted by the word is used.

This is unsupported because we don’t know if there isn’t a better way of teaching children words. The stimulus only discussed one method without comparing it to any other method.

C

The earlier in life a child encounters and uses an object, the easier it is for that child to learn how not to misuse the word denoting that object.

This is unsupported because we aren’t told if children who were younger at the time of the experiment were more or less likely to misapply the word to the ladder.

D

Young children who learn a word by observing how the object denoted by that word is used sometimes apply that word to a different object that is similarly used.

This is strongly supported because the children who learned the word “stairs” by observing walking up and down stairs applied that word to the ladder when a similar activity was being performed.

E

Young children best learn the names of objects when the objects are present at the time the children learn the words and when no other objects are simultaneously present.

This is unsupported because we don’t know if the method used in the study was best. The author never compared that method to any other method of teaching children words.

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LSAT 132 - Section 2 - Question 02

May 13, 2012

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LSAT 132 - Section 2 - Question 03

May 13, 2012

Medications with an unpleasant taste are generally produced only in tablet, capsule, or soft-gel form. The active ingredient in medication M is a waxy substance that cannot tolerate the heat used to manufacture tablets because it has a low melting point. So, since the company developing M does not have soft-gel manufacturing technology and manufactures all its medications itself, M will most likely be produced in capsule form.

Summarize Argument

The author concludes that the medication M will probably be produced in capsule form. This is because medications with an unpleasant taste can come in three forms—soft-gel, tablet, and capsule—the first two of which aren’t feasible for manufacturing M.

Notable Assumptions

The author assumes that M has an unpleasant taste. The author also assumes that the company manufacturing M has the capacity to manufactured capsules, and that M can in fact be manufactured into capsule form.

A

Medication M can be produced in liquid form.

Even if M can be produced in liquid form, there’s a good reason why it isn’t: M has an unpleasant taste. Regardless, this does nothing to tell us M will be produced in capsule form.

B

Medication M has an unpleasant taste.

The author claims that medications with an unpleasant taste are produced in three forms, then assumes M must be produced in one of those three forms. That’s because M indeed has a bad taste, which suggests it will indeed be produced in one of those forms.

C

No medication is produced in both capsule and soft-gel form.

We already know M won’t be produced as a soft-gel because the company developing M can’t create soft-gels. This just tells us no medication at all is produced as both a capsule and soft-gel, which adds nothing to the author’s argument.

D

Most medications with a low melting point are produced in soft-gel form.

We already know M can’t be produced as a soft-gel because the company developing M can’t create soft-gels. This adds nothing.

E

Medications in capsule form taste less unpleasant than those in tablet or soft-gel form.

Does M have a bad taste? We don’t know. Besides, the reason M will be manufactured as a capsule has nothing to do with its taste in capsule form versus other forms.

9 comments

LSAT 132 - Section 2 - Question 04

May 13, 2012

Carol Morris wants to own a majority of the shares of the city’s largest newspaper, The Daily. The only obstacle to Morris’s amassing a majority of these shares is that Azedcorp, which currently owns a majority, has steadfastly refused to sell. Industry analysts nevertheless predict that Morris will soon be the majority owner of The Daily.

Summarize Argument

Industry analysts predict that Morris will soon be the majority owner of The Daily. No evidence is provided for this claim.

Notable Assumptions

Industry analysts assume that Azedcorp will soon sell its shares to Morris.

A

Azedcorp does not own shares of any newspaper other than The Daily.

We don’t care what other shares Azedcorp owns. We need to know why industry analysts are so sure Azedcorp will sell its shares in The Daily to Morris.

B

Morris has recently offered Azedcorp much more for its shares of The Daily than Azedcorp paid for them.

If anything, this suggests Azedcorp won’t sell its shares. Morris has offered what seems to be a pretty good price, and Azedcorp has refused.

C

No one other than Morris has expressed any interest in purchasing a majority of The Daily’s shares.

We don’t care who else is involved. We need to strengthen the claim that Azedcorp will soon change their “steadfast” position of not selling their shares.

D

Morris already owns more shares of The Daily than anyone except Azedcorp.

Even if Morris didn’t have a single share, she’d become the majority owner of The Daily if Azedcorp sold her its shares. We need to strengthen the claim that Azedcorp will in fact do so.

E

Azedcorp is financially so weak that bankruptcy will probably soon force the sale of its newspaper holdings.

Azedcorp will soon have to sell its shares in The Daily. Thus, Morris will be able to buy them and become The Daily’s majority owner as industry analysists predict.

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