Part 2
6. Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of the general
population. This fact shows that the peculiar environment of prison, with its
inherent stresses and deprivations, tends to cause or exacerbate symptoms of
mental illness.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the basis that the
argument
(A) fails to define the term “mentally ill”
(B) presupposes that the prison environment is unique
(C) simply restates the claim that there are “inherent stresses and deprivations”
in prison without providing any evidence in support
(D) takes a correlation between mental illness and prison as proof that prison
causes mental illness
(E) focuses on stress and deprivation only, while ignoring other characteristics
of the prison environment
7. In the movie The Big Date, released in 2004, there is scene that is virtually identical
to a scene in Robber Barron, which was made in 1986. The scene is so unique that it
is highly unlikely that the similarity is mere coincidence. Therefore, it is probable
that the makers of The Big Date saw Robber Barron.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) A third movie that was probably seen by both the makers of The Big Date
and Robber Barron was made in 1960 and contained essentially the same
scene.
(B) The Big Date is a comedy, whereas Robber Barron is a drama.
(C) Both movies were released only in the United States.
(D) The scene in Robber Barron was also included in the play and novel from
which the movie was adapted.
(E) According to critics, The Big Date was a far better movie than Robber Barron
and contained many innovative scenes.
8. Oncologists report that cancer patients with brain tumors who receive a combination
of chemotherapy and radiation treatment do only as well, on average, as those
patients who receive radiation treatment alone. Yet the oncologists state that
chemotherapy is a necessary part of the treatment of all patients who receive them
for tumors.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to reconcile the oncologists’ two claims?
(A) Oncologists treat all cancer patients who have tumors with either radiation
treatment alone or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
(B) Oncologists who prescribe these treatments make accurate determinations
about which patients need both radiation and chemotherapy and which need
radiation alone.
(C) Some tumors have been completely healed by a combination of radiation
and chemotherapy.
(D) Some tumors that have been exacerbated by improper attempts at
chemotherapy have been successfully treated with radiation.
(E) Patients with tumors in other areas of the body show more improvement
when treated with both radiation and chemotherapy than when treated with
radiation alone.
9. Walters: Our neighboring country had a much higher percentage increase in GNP
(Gross National Product) over the last ten years than our country did. So, their
economic prosperity increased relative to ours.
Kostamo: I disagree. The GNP of our neighbor might have increased by a greater
percentage, but the absolute amount of the increase in GNP was certainly greater
for our country.
Walters and Kostamo disagree about whether
(A) change in the economic prosperity of the neighboring country relative to
their country is accurately measured by comparing their percentage changes
in GNP
(B) change in the economic prosperity of the neighboring country is more accurately
measured in terms relative to their country than in terms relative only
to the neighboring country
(C) changes in the GNP of the neighboring country should ever be compared
to changes in the GNP of their country
(D) there were any improvements at all in the economic situation of the neighboring
country during the ten years being considered
(E) the GNP of the neighboring country increased by a greater percentage over
the last decade than did the GNP of their country
10. Adversity and imperfection are often useful. When individuals and teams study the
ways in which adversity arises and their own responses to it, they can acquire
insight into areas that might be ripe for improvement.
Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle above?
(A) An actor should not simply react negatively to a mistake made during an
important performance. By discovering the root causes of the mistake, the
actor can better prepare for future performances.
(B) A politician should understand that the votes received on Election Day are
not only an endorsement of the politician’s policies. Politicians should also
take satisfaction from the fact that voters also respond to the politician’s
personality and appearance.
(C) Altruism is valuable not only for the positive emotions that it brings, but
also for the opportunities to contribute to society’s overall well being.
(D) Even though business can and should be profitable, the primary reward of a
career in business is the career itself.
(E) Golfers whose game suffers when playing with strangers should take every
opportunity to golf with new people. Others will respect their courage, and
they will gain the increased self-respect that comes from giving a full effort
to something that is difficult for them.
Answers and Explanations
6. The best answer is D. This is a flaw question. As discussed in Chapter 3,
“Introduction to LSAT Logic,” correlation does not prove causation. Simply finding
two things together—in this case, being in prison and a higher likelihood of mental
illness—does not mean that one caused the other. In fact, based on the correlation
given, it is just as likely that having a mental illness increases the likelihood that one
will be incarcerated as that incarceration causes mental illness. Although the other
answer choices contain true statements, they fail to identify any flaw in the relationship
between the evidence and the conclusion presented in the argument.
7. The best answer is A. This is a weaken question. Answer choice A weakens the
conclusion of the argument by providing an alternate explanation for the similarity
between the scenes in the two movies. In this instance, the alternate explanation
offered is entirely plausible and would explain why the two scenes are so similar
without blaming only the maker of the movie that came later in time for the similarity.
Each of the other answer choices is irrelevant to the connection between the
evidence presented and the stated conclusion.
8. The best answer is B. This is a paradox question. The paradox, or apparent
contradiction, arises from the fact that the physicians in charge of treatment say
that all patients who receive both treatments need both treatments. And yet, the
patients who receive both treatments usually don’t do any better than the patients
who receive only one treatment. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the
statement in answer choice B that the physicians are correctly identifying which
patients need both treatments and not giving both to patients who only need radiation.
In other words, patients are not randomly assigned to the two groups but
rather carefully selected by experts. Each of the other statements is irrelevant to
the resolution of the paradox.
9. The best answer is A. This is a point of contention question. Kostamo states that
she disagrees and then gives the reason for her disagreement, which is that there is
a difference between a percent increase and an increase in absolute amount. In
other words, if the speaker’s country had a significantly larger GNP than its neighboring
country at the beginning of the time in question, it is plausible that the
neighboring country’s GNP could grow by a much larger percentage but still be
much smaller than the speakers’ country.
10. The best answer is A. This is a principle question. The situation described in
answer choice A is the most closely analogous to the stimulus. The actor is an individual,
and the poor performance is certainly a case of adversity. The idea that the
actor can better prepare for the future corresponds to the idea that individuals
should look for ways to improve. Answer choices B, C, and D are incorrect
because there is no adversity described. Answer choice E is incorrect because it
does not describe the golfer discovering how to improve his golf game. It only
describes the other potentially good things that will probably happen if he puts
himself in a certain situation.
6. Prison inmates are far more likely to be mentally ill than members of the general
population. This fact shows that the peculiar environment of prison, with its
inherent stresses and deprivations, tends to cause or exacerbate symptoms of
mental illness.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the basis that the
argument
(A) fails to define the term “mentally ill”
(B) presupposes that the prison environment is unique
(C) simply restates the claim that there are “inherent stresses and deprivations”
in prison without providing any evidence in support
(D) takes a correlation between mental illness and prison as proof that prison
causes mental illness
(E) focuses on stress and deprivation only, while ignoring other characteristics
of the prison environment
7. In the movie The Big Date, released in 2004, there is scene that is virtually identical
to a scene in Robber Barron, which was made in 1986. The scene is so unique that it
is highly unlikely that the similarity is mere coincidence. Therefore, it is probable
that the makers of The Big Date saw Robber Barron.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) A third movie that was probably seen by both the makers of The Big Date
and Robber Barron was made in 1960 and contained essentially the same
scene.
(B) The Big Date is a comedy, whereas Robber Barron is a drama.
(C) Both movies were released only in the United States.
(D) The scene in Robber Barron was also included in the play and novel from
which the movie was adapted.
(E) According to critics, The Big Date was a far better movie than Robber Barron
and contained many innovative scenes.
8. Oncologists report that cancer patients with brain tumors who receive a combination
of chemotherapy and radiation treatment do only as well, on average, as those
patients who receive radiation treatment alone. Yet the oncologists state that
chemotherapy is a necessary part of the treatment of all patients who receive them
for tumors.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to reconcile the oncologists’ two claims?
(A) Oncologists treat all cancer patients who have tumors with either radiation
treatment alone or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
(B) Oncologists who prescribe these treatments make accurate determinations
about which patients need both radiation and chemotherapy and which need
radiation alone.
(C) Some tumors have been completely healed by a combination of radiation
and chemotherapy.
(D) Some tumors that have been exacerbated by improper attempts at
chemotherapy have been successfully treated with radiation.
(E) Patients with tumors in other areas of the body show more improvement
when treated with both radiation and chemotherapy than when treated with
radiation alone.
9. Walters: Our neighboring country had a much higher percentage increase in GNP
(Gross National Product) over the last ten years than our country did. So, their
economic prosperity increased relative to ours.
Kostamo: I disagree. The GNP of our neighbor might have increased by a greater
percentage, but the absolute amount of the increase in GNP was certainly greater
for our country.
Walters and Kostamo disagree about whether
(A) change in the economic prosperity of the neighboring country relative to
their country is accurately measured by comparing their percentage changes
in GNP
(B) change in the economic prosperity of the neighboring country is more accurately
measured in terms relative to their country than in terms relative only
to the neighboring country
(C) changes in the GNP of the neighboring country should ever be compared
to changes in the GNP of their country
(D) there were any improvements at all in the economic situation of the neighboring
country during the ten years being considered
(E) the GNP of the neighboring country increased by a greater percentage over
the last decade than did the GNP of their country
10. Adversity and imperfection are often useful. When individuals and teams study the
ways in which adversity arises and their own responses to it, they can acquire
insight into areas that might be ripe for improvement.
Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle above?
(A) An actor should not simply react negatively to a mistake made during an
important performance. By discovering the root causes of the mistake, the
actor can better prepare for future performances.
(B) A politician should understand that the votes received on Election Day are
not only an endorsement of the politician’s policies. Politicians should also
take satisfaction from the fact that voters also respond to the politician’s
personality and appearance.
(C) Altruism is valuable not only for the positive emotions that it brings, but
also for the opportunities to contribute to society’s overall well being.
(D) Even though business can and should be profitable, the primary reward of a
career in business is the career itself.
(E) Golfers whose game suffers when playing with strangers should take every
opportunity to golf with new people. Others will respect their courage, and
they will gain the increased self-respect that comes from giving a full effort
to something that is difficult for them.
Answers and Explanations
6. The best answer is D. This is a flaw question. As discussed in Chapter 3,
“Introduction to LSAT Logic,” correlation does not prove causation. Simply finding
two things together—in this case, being in prison and a higher likelihood of mental
illness—does not mean that one caused the other. In fact, based on the correlation
given, it is just as likely that having a mental illness increases the likelihood that one
will be incarcerated as that incarceration causes mental illness. Although the other
answer choices contain true statements, they fail to identify any flaw in the relationship
between the evidence and the conclusion presented in the argument.
7. The best answer is A. This is a weaken question. Answer choice A weakens the
conclusion of the argument by providing an alternate explanation for the similarity
between the scenes in the two movies. In this instance, the alternate explanation
offered is entirely plausible and would explain why the two scenes are so similar
without blaming only the maker of the movie that came later in time for the similarity.
Each of the other answer choices is irrelevant to the connection between the
evidence presented and the stated conclusion.
8. The best answer is B. This is a paradox question. The paradox, or apparent
contradiction, arises from the fact that the physicians in charge of treatment say
that all patients who receive both treatments need both treatments. And yet, the
patients who receive both treatments usually don’t do any better than the patients
who receive only one treatment. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the
statement in answer choice B that the physicians are correctly identifying which
patients need both treatments and not giving both to patients who only need radiation.
In other words, patients are not randomly assigned to the two groups but
rather carefully selected by experts. Each of the other statements is irrelevant to
the resolution of the paradox.
9. The best answer is A. This is a point of contention question. Kostamo states that
she disagrees and then gives the reason for her disagreement, which is that there is
a difference between a percent increase and an increase in absolute amount. In
other words, if the speaker’s country had a significantly larger GNP than its neighboring
country at the beginning of the time in question, it is plausible that the
neighboring country’s GNP could grow by a much larger percentage but still be
much smaller than the speakers’ country.
10. The best answer is A. This is a principle question. The situation described in
answer choice A is the most closely analogous to the stimulus. The actor is an individual,
and the poor performance is certainly a case of adversity. The idea that the
actor can better prepare for the future corresponds to the idea that individuals
should look for ways to improve. Answer choices B, C, and D are incorrect
because there is no adversity described. Answer choice E is incorrect because it
does not describe the golfer discovering how to improve his golf game. It only
describes the other potentially good things that will probably happen if he puts
himself in a certain situation.
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