The true effect of “except” is to logically negate the question stem. We will
discuss Logical Negation in more detail in the Assumption question chapter.
The word “except” has a dramatic impact when it appears in a question stem.
Because “except” means “other than,” when “except” is placed in a question it
negates the logical quality of the answer choice you seek. Literally, it turns the
intent of the question stem upside down. For example, if a question asks you
to weaken the argument, the one correct answer weakens the argument and the
other four answers do not weaken the argument. If “except” is added to the
question stem, as in “Each of the following weakens the argument EXCEPT,”
the stem is turned around and instead of the correct answer weakening the
argument, the four incorrect answers weaken the argument and the one correct
answer does not weaken the argument.
Many students, upon encountering “except” in a question stem, make the
mistake of assuming that the “except” charges you with seeking the polar
opposite. For example, if a question stem asks you to weaken the argument,
some students believe that a “Weaken EXCEPT” question stem actually asks
you to strengthen the argument. This is incorrect. Although weaken and
strengthen are polar opposites, because except means “other than,” when a
“Weaken EXCEPT” question stem appears, you are asked to find any answer
choice other than Weaken. While this could include a strengthening answer
choice, it could also include an answer choice that has no effect on the
argument. Thus, in a “Weaken EXCEPT” question, the four incorrect answers
Weaken the argument and the one correct answer does not weaken the
argument (could strengthen or have no effect). Here are some other examples:
1. “Which one of the following, if true, strengthens the argument above?”
One correct answer: Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Do not Strengthen
“Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument above
EXCEPT:”
One correct answer: Does not Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Strengthen
Some LSAT Logical Reasoning sections feature “except” questions very heavily. For
example, in the second reasoning section of the June 2003 LSAT, 6 of the 26
questions used “except.”
2. “Which one of the following, if true, would help to resolve the
apparent discrepancy above?”
One correct answer: Resolves the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Do not Resolve the Paradox
“Each of the following, if true, would help to resolve the apparent
discrepancy above EXCEPT:”
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
As you can see from the two examples, the presence of except has a profound
impact upon the meaning of the question stem. Because “except” has this
powerful effect, it always appears in all capital letters whenever it is used in an
LSAT question stem.
The word “least” has a similar effect to “except” when it appears in a question
stem. Although “least” and “except” do not generally have the same meaning,
when “least” appears in a question stem you should treat it exactly the same as
“except.” Note: this advice holds true only when this word appears in the
question stem! If you see the word “least” elsewhere on the LSAT, consider it
to have its usual meaning of “in the lowest or smallest degree.”
Let us look more closely at how and why “least” functions identically to
“except.” Compare the following two question stems:
“Which one of the following, if true, would help to resolve the
apparent discrepancy above?”
One correct answer: Resolves the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Do not Resolve the Paradox
“Which one of the following, if true, helps LEAST to resolve the
apparent discrepancy described above?”
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
By asking for the question stem that “least” helps resolve the paradox, the test
makers indicate that the four incorrect answers will more strongly help resolve
the paradox. But, in practice, when “least” is used, all five answer choices do
not resolve the paradox to varying degrees. Instead, four answers resolve the
paradox and the one correct answer does not resolve the paradox. Why do the
test makers do this? Because the test makers cannot afford to introduce
uncertainty into the correctness of the answers. If all five answer choices
resolve the paradox, then reasonable minds could come to a disagreement
about which one “least” resolves the paradox. In order to avoid this type of
controversy, the test makers simply make sure that exactly one answer choice
does not resolve the paradox (and, because that answer choice does not resolve
the paradox it automatically has the “least” effect possible). In this way, the
test makers can present a seemingly difficult and confusing task while at the
same time avoiding a test construction problem. Because of this situation, any
time you encounter “least” in a question stem, simply recognize that four of
the answers will meet the stated criteria (weaken, strengthen, resolve, etc.) and
the one correct answer will not. Thus, you will not have to make an
assessment based on degree of correctness.
Here is another example comparing the use of the word “least:”
“Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the
argument above?”
One correct answer: Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Do not Strengthen
“Which one of the following, if true, LEAST strengthens the
argument above?”
One correct answer: Does not Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Strengthen
Because “least,” like “except,” has such a strong impact on the meaning of a
question stem, the test makers kindly place “least” in all capital letters when it
appears in a question stem.
In the answer keys to this book, we will designate questions that contain
“except” or “least” by placing an “X” at the end of the question stem
classification. For example, a “Weaken EXCEPT” question stem would be
classified as “WeakenX.” A “Strengthen EXCEPT” question stem would be
classified as “StrengthenX” and so on. The only exception to this rule will be a
question that states, “Each of the following could be true EXCEPT.” Those
questions will be designated “Cannot Be True,” and we will discuss this in
more detail in Chapter Seventeen.
“Except” is used far more frequently in LSAT question stems than “least.”
discuss Logical Negation in more detail in the Assumption question chapter.
The word “except” has a dramatic impact when it appears in a question stem.
Because “except” means “other than,” when “except” is placed in a question it
negates the logical quality of the answer choice you seek. Literally, it turns the
intent of the question stem upside down. For example, if a question asks you
to weaken the argument, the one correct answer weakens the argument and the
other four answers do not weaken the argument. If “except” is added to the
question stem, as in “Each of the following weakens the argument EXCEPT,”
the stem is turned around and instead of the correct answer weakening the
argument, the four incorrect answers weaken the argument and the one correct
answer does not weaken the argument.
Many students, upon encountering “except” in a question stem, make the
mistake of assuming that the “except” charges you with seeking the polar
opposite. For example, if a question stem asks you to weaken the argument,
some students believe that a “Weaken EXCEPT” question stem actually asks
you to strengthen the argument. This is incorrect. Although weaken and
strengthen are polar opposites, because except means “other than,” when a
“Weaken EXCEPT” question stem appears, you are asked to find any answer
choice other than Weaken. While this could include a strengthening answer
choice, it could also include an answer choice that has no effect on the
argument. Thus, in a “Weaken EXCEPT” question, the four incorrect answers
Weaken the argument and the one correct answer does not weaken the
argument (could strengthen or have no effect). Here are some other examples:
1. “Which one of the following, if true, strengthens the argument above?”
One correct answer: Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Do not Strengthen
“Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument above
EXCEPT:”
One correct answer: Does not Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Strengthen
Some LSAT Logical Reasoning sections feature “except” questions very heavily. For
example, in the second reasoning section of the June 2003 LSAT, 6 of the 26
questions used “except.”
2. “Which one of the following, if true, would help to resolve the
apparent discrepancy above?”
One correct answer: Resolves the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Do not Resolve the Paradox
“Each of the following, if true, would help to resolve the apparent
discrepancy above EXCEPT:”
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
As you can see from the two examples, the presence of except has a profound
impact upon the meaning of the question stem. Because “except” has this
powerful effect, it always appears in all capital letters whenever it is used in an
LSAT question stem.
The word “least” has a similar effect to “except” when it appears in a question
stem. Although “least” and “except” do not generally have the same meaning,
when “least” appears in a question stem you should treat it exactly the same as
“except.” Note: this advice holds true only when this word appears in the
question stem! If you see the word “least” elsewhere on the LSAT, consider it
to have its usual meaning of “in the lowest or smallest degree.”
Let us look more closely at how and why “least” functions identically to
“except.” Compare the following two question stems:
“Which one of the following, if true, would help to resolve the
apparent discrepancy above?”
One correct answer: Resolves the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Do not Resolve the Paradox
“Which one of the following, if true, helps LEAST to resolve the
apparent discrepancy described above?”
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
By asking for the question stem that “least” helps resolve the paradox, the test
makers indicate that the four incorrect answers will more strongly help resolve
the paradox. But, in practice, when “least” is used, all five answer choices do
not resolve the paradox to varying degrees. Instead, four answers resolve the
paradox and the one correct answer does not resolve the paradox. Why do the
test makers do this? Because the test makers cannot afford to introduce
uncertainty into the correctness of the answers. If all five answer choices
resolve the paradox, then reasonable minds could come to a disagreement
about which one “least” resolves the paradox. In order to avoid this type of
controversy, the test makers simply make sure that exactly one answer choice
does not resolve the paradox (and, because that answer choice does not resolve
the paradox it automatically has the “least” effect possible). In this way, the
test makers can present a seemingly difficult and confusing task while at the
same time avoiding a test construction problem. Because of this situation, any
time you encounter “least” in a question stem, simply recognize that four of
the answers will meet the stated criteria (weaken, strengthen, resolve, etc.) and
the one correct answer will not. Thus, you will not have to make an
assessment based on degree of correctness.
Here is another example comparing the use of the word “least:”
“Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the
argument above?”
One correct answer: Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Do not Strengthen
“Which one of the following, if true, LEAST strengthens the
argument above?”
One correct answer: Does not Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Strengthen
Because “least,” like “except,” has such a strong impact on the meaning of a
question stem, the test makers kindly place “least” in all capital letters when it
appears in a question stem.
In the answer keys to this book, we will designate questions that contain
“except” or “least” by placing an “X” at the end of the question stem
classification. For example, a “Weaken EXCEPT” question stem would be
classified as “WeakenX.” A “Strengthen EXCEPT” question stem would be
classified as “StrengthenX” and so on. The only exception to this rule will be a
question that states, “Each of the following could be true EXCEPT.” Those
questions will be designated “Cannot Be True,” and we will discuss this in
more detail in Chapter Seventeen.
“Except” is used far more frequently in LSAT question stems than “least.”
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