LSAT (Law School Admission Test) Interview Preparation Guide

Which of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to the one exhibited in the argument above?

1. Moose and bear usually appear at the same drinking ...........hole at the same time of day. Therefore, moose and ...........bear must grow thirsty at about the same time.
2. Children who are scolded severely tend to misbehave ...........more often than other children. Hence if a child is ...........not scolded severely that child is less likely to ...........misbehave.
3. This software program helps increase the work ...........efficiency of its users. As a result, these users ...........have more free time for other activities.
4. During warm weather my dog suffers from fleas ...........more so than during cooler weather. Therefore, ...........fleas must thrive in a warm environment.
5. Pesticides are known to cause anemia in some people. ...........However, most anemic people live in regions where ...........pesticides are not commonly used.

Ans : D

The argument above depends on which the following assumptions?

1. The Verbal Advantage program would not help the ...........students learn history and science.
2. Other reading programs are just as effective but ...........less expensive than the Verbal Advantage program.
3. The Verbal Advantage program involves only reading ...........practice.
4. Teaching students history and science is more ...........important than teaching them reading skills.
5. The students can already read well enough to ...........study history and science

Ans : C

From the information given above, it can be validly concluded that

1. there are at least some industries run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are underground industries
2. no industries that are run entirely by self-employed industrialists operate underground
3. there are at least some industries other than those run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are underground industries
4. there are at least some industries run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are not underground industries
5. there are at least some underground industries for which national productivity measures are available

Ans : D

Which of the following is the strongest thing that we can properly say about this discussion?

1. Evelyn is mistaken in thinking Lou's argument to be fallacious, and so her own conclusion is unwarranted.
2. Evelyn is right about Lou's argument, but nevertheless her own conclusion is unwarranted.
3. Since Evelyn is right about Lou's argument, her own conclusion is well supported.
4. Since Evelyn is mistaken about Lou's argument, her own conclusion must be false.
5. Evelyn is right about Lou's argument, but nevertheless her own conclusion is false.

Ans : B

Which of the following can be said about the reasoning above?

1. The definitions of the terms create ambiguity.
2. The argument uses circular reasoning.
3. The argument works by analogy.
4. The argument is built upon hidden assumptions.
5. This is an example of an argument that is directed against the source of the claim rather than the claim itself.

Ans : D

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

1. Planes are inspected more often than cars.
2. The number of car accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the number of plane accidents.
3. Pilots never fly under the influence of alcohol, while car drivers often do.
4. Plane accidents are usually the fault of air traffic controllers, not pilots.
5. Planes carry more passengers than cars do.

Ans : B

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the above conclusion?

1. Students who are away from their parents often exhibit rude behavior.
2. The college numbers over 50,000 students.
3. The narrator is a student and has interacted with many students.
4. Social skills should not be expected of college students.
5. The narrator was reluctant to stay at the college.

Ans : B

The author of the letter above makes her point by employing which method of argument?

1. Attacking the motives of the author of the unfavorable review.
2. Attacking the book on the same topic written by the author of the review.
3. Contrasting her own book with that written by the author of the review.
4. Questioning the judgment of the author of the unfavorable review.
5. Stating that her book should not have been reviewed by the author of a competing work.

Ans : A

Which of the following is an assumption made in the argument above?

1. Withdrawal of U.S. aid from Zunimagua will force a change in the policies of its government.
2. The people of Zunimagua would be better off if their present despotic government were overthrown.
3. The government of Zunimagua is dependent on continued U.S. aid for its existence.
4. U.S. aid should be given only to countries willing to adopt policies in line with U.S. interests and goals.
5. U.S. aid should be withdrawn from any country that refuses to operate its government along democratic lines.

Ans : E

The argument above may best be characterized as:

1. an appeal to emotion.
2. a flawed analogy.
3. a general conclusion based on a specific example.
4. circular reasoning.
5. an application of a general principle to a specific example.

Ans : C