Question #1. Must-PR. October 2002 LSAT, Section 1, #7. The correct answer choice is (D)
The principle in the stimulus is clearly stated: “one should always have one’s own work checked by
someone else.” Your task is to find the answer that most closely follows that guideline.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice does not contain any work to be checked, and therefore it cannot
illustrate the principle in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): Although this answer discusses “one’s view,” a view is not the same as “one’s own
work” and therefore the principle cannot be applied to this answer.
Answer choice (C): Although this answer involves the checking of work (juries “check” the work of
lawyers), the heart of this answer is not that one should have one’s own worked checked by others. Rather,
this answer focuses on who is in the best position to do the checking: experts or novices.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. The answer matches the principle by stating that a writer
should have his or her work proofread by others, and then further provides a justification that matches the
premise in the stimulus (that other people are better at detecting errors).
Answer choice (E): Ordering a meal does not qualify as “one’s own work,” nor does eating the meal
qualify as checking the work. Hence, this answer has no attribute that illustrates the principle.
Overall, this question is classified as relatively easy.
Question #2. Strengthen-PR. October 2003 LSAT, Section 1, #17. The correct answer choice is (C)
The stimulus presents a clear and easy-to-understand situation, and Sharon’s actions can be described as
follows: Sharon paid the asking price for an item even though she was fully aware the asking price was far
too low, and she feels her actions are not inappropriate.
The question stem requires you to identify the answer that contains a principle that would most strengthen
Sharon’s position regarding her actions. The principle that supports Sharon’s position must address, in
some way, the discrepancy between what Sharon paid for the item and what she knew to be the value of
the item.
Please note that your personal view of the ethics of Sharon’s actions have no place in this question. The
stimulus describes what she did, and the nature of the question forces you to identify the answer that best
justifies her decision.
Answer choice (A): This answer focuses on the obligations of the seller, not the buyer. Since Sharon is the
buyer and it is her actions that are under scrutiny, this answer choice does not apply to the scenario in the
stimulus. Remember, read carefully! This is a Reverse answer, and if you switch buyer and seller in the
answer it will be correct.
Answer choice (B): The issue in the stimulus is not whether Sharon paid the storekeeper the asking
price—she did. The issue is whether she took advantage of him by not disclosing the fact that the item was
worth more than the asking price. Since this answer focuses on the whether the amount of money paid
matches the asking price, it is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer. The principle in this answer makes it clear that a buyer has
no obligation beyond paying the asking price for an item. If this is true, then Sharon is justified in not
disclosing the true value of the item to the storekeeper.
Answer choice (D): Sharon’s position revolves around the discrepancy between what Sharon paid for the
item and what she knew to be the value of the item. This answer choice addresses the buyer’s
responsibility regarding the quality of the item, and does not touch on the issue of the discrepancy.
Note that it appears Sharon did ascertain that the quality of the item met her standards. Regardless, since
the principle fails to address the defensibility of her position, the answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): There is no indication that Sharon and the storekeeper were “well acquainted,” so this
principle cannot be applied to the situation in the stimulus. If they were well acquainted, then Sharon’s
position would be weakened.
Question #3. Must-PR, SN. December 2002 LSAT, Section 1, #11. The correct answer choice is (D)
Statistically, this question is considerably more difficult than either of the previous two questions. The
difficulty occurs because many students mis-diagram one or both of the conditional statements in the
stimulus. Although the question stems asks you to identify the answer that follows from the principle, the
principle contains two similar but distinct conditional statements, you must be aware that either could
figure in the correct answer. We will now examine both of the statements (the conditional indicators are
italicized):
1. “A gift is not generous unless it is intended to benefit the recipient and is worth more than what is
expected or customary in the situation.”
Applying the Unless Equation, the phrase modified by “unless” becomes the necessary condition
and the remainder is negated and becomes the sufficient condition:
G = a gift is generous
B = the gift is intended to benefit the recipient
WM = the gift is worth more than what is expected or customary in the situation
B
G----------> +
WM
As discussed in the chapter, the application of a conditional principle similar to this one does not
allow a conclusion to be drawn that someone is generous (however, a conclusion could be made
via the contrapositive that someone is not generous).
2. “A gift is selfish if it is given to benefit the giver or is less valuable than is customary.”
Remember, “if” introduces a sufficient condition.
S = a gift is selfish
BG = the gift is given to benefit the giver
LV = the gift is less valuable than is customary
BG
or-----------> S
LV
Some students compare the two statements in the stimulus and conclude that the second is the
contrapositive of the first. While the second relationship is very similar to the contrapositive of the first
relationship, it is not an exact contrapositive because the logical opposite of “generous” is not “selfish” (it
is “not generous”), the logical opposite of “benefit the recipient” is not “benefit the giver” (it is “not benefit
the recipient”), and the logical opposite of “worth more than customary” is not “worth less than
customary” (it is “not worth more than customary”).
As you examine the answer choices, keep in mind that the test makers will try to devise answer choices
that are similar to the guidelines in the principle, but that do not match exactly. These answers will be
incorrect. Remember also that the contrapositive of either conditional statement can be used to arrive at the
correct answer.
Answer choice (A): This is a very attractive wrong answer choice.
To draw the conclusion that one’s gift is selfish, one must either give a gift that is given to benefit the giver
or give a gift that is less valuable than is customary. Let us examine the answer choice and determine
whether Charles’s gift meets either condition:
The principle in the stimulus is clearly stated: “one should always have one’s own work checked by
someone else.” Your task is to find the answer that most closely follows that guideline.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice does not contain any work to be checked, and therefore it cannot
illustrate the principle in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): Although this answer discusses “one’s view,” a view is not the same as “one’s own
work” and therefore the principle cannot be applied to this answer.
Answer choice (C): Although this answer involves the checking of work (juries “check” the work of
lawyers), the heart of this answer is not that one should have one’s own worked checked by others. Rather,
this answer focuses on who is in the best position to do the checking: experts or novices.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. The answer matches the principle by stating that a writer
should have his or her work proofread by others, and then further provides a justification that matches the
premise in the stimulus (that other people are better at detecting errors).
Answer choice (E): Ordering a meal does not qualify as “one’s own work,” nor does eating the meal
qualify as checking the work. Hence, this answer has no attribute that illustrates the principle.
Overall, this question is classified as relatively easy.
Question #2. Strengthen-PR. October 2003 LSAT, Section 1, #17. The correct answer choice is (C)
The stimulus presents a clear and easy-to-understand situation, and Sharon’s actions can be described as
follows: Sharon paid the asking price for an item even though she was fully aware the asking price was far
too low, and she feels her actions are not inappropriate.
The question stem requires you to identify the answer that contains a principle that would most strengthen
Sharon’s position regarding her actions. The principle that supports Sharon’s position must address, in
some way, the discrepancy between what Sharon paid for the item and what she knew to be the value of
the item.
Please note that your personal view of the ethics of Sharon’s actions have no place in this question. The
stimulus describes what she did, and the nature of the question forces you to identify the answer that best
justifies her decision.
Answer choice (A): This answer focuses on the obligations of the seller, not the buyer. Since Sharon is the
buyer and it is her actions that are under scrutiny, this answer choice does not apply to the scenario in the
stimulus. Remember, read carefully! This is a Reverse answer, and if you switch buyer and seller in the
answer it will be correct.
Answer choice (B): The issue in the stimulus is not whether Sharon paid the storekeeper the asking
price—she did. The issue is whether she took advantage of him by not disclosing the fact that the item was
worth more than the asking price. Since this answer focuses on the whether the amount of money paid
matches the asking price, it is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer. The principle in this answer makes it clear that a buyer has
no obligation beyond paying the asking price for an item. If this is true, then Sharon is justified in not
disclosing the true value of the item to the storekeeper.
Answer choice (D): Sharon’s position revolves around the discrepancy between what Sharon paid for the
item and what she knew to be the value of the item. This answer choice addresses the buyer’s
responsibility regarding the quality of the item, and does not touch on the issue of the discrepancy.
Note that it appears Sharon did ascertain that the quality of the item met her standards. Regardless, since
the principle fails to address the defensibility of her position, the answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): There is no indication that Sharon and the storekeeper were “well acquainted,” so this
principle cannot be applied to the situation in the stimulus. If they were well acquainted, then Sharon’s
position would be weakened.
Question #3. Must-PR, SN. December 2002 LSAT, Section 1, #11. The correct answer choice is (D)
Statistically, this question is considerably more difficult than either of the previous two questions. The
difficulty occurs because many students mis-diagram one or both of the conditional statements in the
stimulus. Although the question stems asks you to identify the answer that follows from the principle, the
principle contains two similar but distinct conditional statements, you must be aware that either could
figure in the correct answer. We will now examine both of the statements (the conditional indicators are
italicized):
1. “A gift is not generous unless it is intended to benefit the recipient and is worth more than what is
expected or customary in the situation.”
Applying the Unless Equation, the phrase modified by “unless” becomes the necessary condition
and the remainder is negated and becomes the sufficient condition:
G = a gift is generous
B = the gift is intended to benefit the recipient
WM = the gift is worth more than what is expected or customary in the situation
B
G----------> +
WM
As discussed in the chapter, the application of a conditional principle similar to this one does not
allow a conclusion to be drawn that someone is generous (however, a conclusion could be made
via the contrapositive that someone is not generous).
2. “A gift is selfish if it is given to benefit the giver or is less valuable than is customary.”
Remember, “if” introduces a sufficient condition.
S = a gift is selfish
BG = the gift is given to benefit the giver
LV = the gift is less valuable than is customary
BG
or-----------> S
LV
Some students compare the two statements in the stimulus and conclude that the second is the
contrapositive of the first. While the second relationship is very similar to the contrapositive of the first
relationship, it is not an exact contrapositive because the logical opposite of “generous” is not “selfish” (it
is “not generous”), the logical opposite of “benefit the recipient” is not “benefit the giver” (it is “not benefit
the recipient”), and the logical opposite of “worth more than customary” is not “worth less than
customary” (it is “not worth more than customary”).
As you examine the answer choices, keep in mind that the test makers will try to devise answer choices
that are similar to the guidelines in the principle, but that do not match exactly. These answers will be
incorrect. Remember also that the contrapositive of either conditional statement can be used to arrive at the
correct answer.
Answer choice (A): This is a very attractive wrong answer choice.
To draw the conclusion that one’s gift is selfish, one must either give a gift that is given to benefit the giver
or give a gift that is less valuable than is customary. Let us examine the answer choice and determine
whether Charles’s gift meets either condition:
