LR Main Conclusion 1.3 Flashcards
What I learned today
The LSAT tries to trick you by adding answers that restate the premise. FOCUS on the CONCLUSION!
The answer doesn’t need to be verbatim.
You go girl
These types of questions can be answered quickly once you find the conclusion
This almost got be because of E, but I answered correctly
Editorial: Many critics of consumerism insist that advertising persuades people that they need certain consumer goods when they merely desire them. However, this accusation rests on a fuzzy distinction, that between wants and needs. In life, it is often impossible to determine whether something is merely desirable or whether it is essential to one’s happiness.
Level 3
Which one of the following most accurately expresses
the conclusion drawn in the editorial’s argument?
(A) The claim that advertising persuades people that they need things that they merely want rests on a fuzzy distinction.
(B) Many critics of consumerism insist that advertising attempts to blur people’s ability to distinguish between wants and needs.
(C) There is nothing wrong with advertising that tries to persuade people that they need certain
consumer goods.
(D) Many critics of consumerism fail to realize that certain things are essential to human happiness.
(E) Critics of consumerism often use fuzzy
distinctions to support their claims.
133 - Section 3 - Question 10
Almost got me because of b, but I answered correctly
A large company has been convicted of engaging in monopolistic practices. The penalty imposed on the company will probably have little if any effect on its behavior. Still, the trial was worthwhile, since it provided useful information about the company’s practices. After all, this information has emboldened the company’s direct competitors, alerted potential rivals, and forced the company to restrain its unfair behavior toward customers and competitors.
Level 3
Which one of the following most accurately expresses
the overall conclusion drawn in the argument?
(A) Even if the company had not been convicted of engaging in monopolistic practices, the trial probably would have had some effect on the
company’s behavior.
(B) The light shed on the company’s practices by the trial has emboldened its competitors, alerted potential rivals, and forced the
company to restrain its unfair behavior. (all premise)
(C) The penalty imposed on the company will likelyhave little or no effect on its behavior.
(D) The company’s trial on charges of engaging in monopolistic practices was worthwhile.
(E) The penalty imposed on the company in the
trial should have been larger.
133 - Section 1 - Question 13
This was interesting
Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disporportion between text and music in Handel’s de capo arias. These texts are generally quite short and often repeated well beyond what is needed for literal understanding. Yet such criticism is refuted by noting that repetition serves a vital function: it frees the audiance to focus on the music itself, which can speak to audiences whatever their language.
Not sure
Which one of the following sentences best expresses the main point of the musicologist’s reasoning?
A) Handel’s de capo arias contain a disporportionate amount of music (not conclusion)
B) Handel’s de capo arias are superior to most in their accessibility to diverse audiences (we talked about audiences with diverse languages only, which wasn’t a conclusion)
C) At least one frequent criticism of Handel’s de capo arias is undeserved
D) At least some of Handel’s de capo arias contain unnecessary repetitions (not in conclusion)
E) Most (this is going too far, they said many critics, but only mentioned 1 criticism) criticism of Handel’s de capo arias is unwarranted
MC I got wrong on 12/23/24
Florist: Some people like to have green carnations on St. Patrick’s Day. But flowers that are naturally green are extremely rare. Thus, it is very difficult for plant breeders to produce green carnations. Before St. Patrick’s Day, then, it is wise for florists to stock up on white camations, which are fairly inexpensive and quite easy to dye green.
Level 3
Which one of the following most accurately expresses
the overall conclusion of the florist’s argument?
(A) It is a good idea for florists to stock up on
white carnations before St. Patrick’s Day.
(B) Flowers that are naturally green are very rare.
(C) There are some people who like to have green carnations on St. Patrick’s Day.
(D) White camations are fairly inexpensive and can easily be dyed green.
(E) It is very difficult to breed green carnations. (this supports the conclusion that we should stock up on white carnations)
The conclusion I thought was “it is very difficult for plant breeders to prodice green carnations,” however, that wasn’t it.
135 - Section 1 - Question 02
Australia has considerably fewer species of carnivorous mammals than any other continent does but about as many carnivorous reptile species as other continents do. This is probably a consequence of the unusual sparseness of Australia’s ecosystems. To survive, carnivorous mammals must eat much more than carnivorous reptiles need to; thus carnivorous mammals are at a disadvantage in ecosystems in which there is relatively little food. (this is a sub coclusion, not the main conclusion)
Level 4
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
(A) Australia has considerably fewer species of carnivorous mammals than any other continent does but about as many carnivorous reptile
species as other continents do.
(B) In ecosystems in which there is relatively little food carnivorous mammals are at a
disadvantage relative to carnivorous reptiles.
(C) The unusual sparseness of Australia’s ecosystems is probably the reason Australia has considerably fewer camivorous mammal species than other continents do but about as
many carnivorous reptile species.
(D) The reason that carnivorous mammals are at a disadvantage in ecosystems in which there is relatively little food is that they must eat much more in order to survive than carnivorous reptiles need to.
(E) Because Australia’s ecosystems are unusually sparse, carnivorous mammals there are at a disadvantage relative to carnivorous reptiles.
Picked the wrong conclusion
125 - Section 4 - Question 11
It is widely believed that eating chocolate can cause acne. Indeed, many people who are susceptible to acne report that, in their own experience, eating large amounts of chocolate is invariably followed by an outbreak of that skin condition. However, it is likely that common wisdom has mistaken an effect for a cause. Several recent scientific studies indicate that hormonal changes associated with stress can cause acne and there is good evidence that people who are fond of chocolate tend to eat more chocolate when they are under stress.
Level 2 112 - Section 1 - Question 06
Of the following, which one most accurately expresses the main point of the argument?
(A) People are mistaken who insist that whenever they eat large amounts of chocolate they invariably suffer from an outbreak of acne.
(B) The more chocolate a person eats, the more likely that person is to experience the hormonal changes associated with stress.
(C) Eating large amounts of chocolate is more likely to cause stress than it is to cause outbreaks of acne.
(D) It is less likely that eating large amounts of chocolate causes acne than that both the chocolate eating and the acne are caused by stress.
(E) The more stress a person experiences, the more likely that person is to crave chocolate.
Baumgartner’s comparison of the environmental hazards of gasoline-powered cars with those of electric cars is misleading. He examines only production of the cars, whereas it is the product’s total life cycle-production, use, and recycling-that matters in determining its environmental impact. A typical gasoline-powered car consumes 3 times more resources and produces 15 to 20 times more air pollution than a typical electric car.
Level 3 119 - Section 3 - Question 21
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument?
(A) Baumgartner makes a deceptive comparison between the environmental hazards of gasoline-powered and electric cars.
(B) The use of a typical gasoline-powered car results in much greater resource depletion than does the use of a typical electric car.
(C) Baumgartner uses inaccurate data in his comparison of the environmental hazards of gasoline-powered and electric cars.
(D) The total life cycle of a product is what matters in assessing its environmental impact.
(E) The production of gasoline-powered cars creates more environmental hazards than does that of electric cars
It is a given that to be an intriguing person, one must be able to inspire the perpetual curiosity of others. Constantly broadening one’s abilities and extending one’s intellectual reach will enable one to inspire that curiosity. For such a perpetual expansion of one’s mind makes it impossible to be fully comprehended, making one a constant mystery to others.
Level 5
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the argument above?
(A) To be an intriguing person, one must be able to inspire the perpetual curiosity of others.
(B) If one constantly broadens one’s abilities and extends one’s intellectual reach, one will be able to inspire the perpetual curiosity of others.
(C) If one’s mind becomes impossible to fully comprehend, one will always be a mystery to others.
(D) To inspire the perpetual curiosity of others, one must constantly broaden one’s abilities and extend one’s intellectual reach.
(E) If one constantly broadens one’s abilities and extends one’s intellectual reach, one will always have curiosity.
When something says, “it is a given” that is context/premise. They’re saying we’re accepting this as true. Conclusions need support and this couldn’t be the conclusion because it wouldn’t need support. When we see “for” know that there is a premise right after that and a conclusion before it.
130 - Section 1 - Question 13
I was in between c & d and picked d on 1/2/25
For years scientists have been scanning the skies in the hope of finding life on other planets. But in spite of the ever-increasing sophistication of the equipment they employ, some of it costing hundreds of millions of dollars, not the first shred of evidence of such life has been forthcoming. And there is no reason to think that these scientists will be any more successful in the future, no matter how much money is invested in the search. The dream of finding extraterrestrial life is destined to remain a dream, as science’s experience up to this point should indicate.
Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the argument?
(A) There is no reason to believe that life exists on other planets.
(B) The equipment that scientists employ is not as sophisticated as it should be.
(C) Scientists searching for extraterrestrial life will not find it.
(D) Only if scientists had already found evidence of life on other planets would continued search be justified.
(E) We should not spend money on sophisticated equipment to aid in the search for extraterrestrial life
Main points are inferred answers
101 - Section 2 - Question 12 level 3
MC that I got wrong on 1/2/25
Citizen: The primary factor determining a dog’s disposition is not its breed, but its home environment. A bad owner can undo generations of careful breeding. Legislation focusing on specific breeds of dogs would not address the effects of human behavior in raising and training animals. As a result, such breed-specific legislation could never effectively protect the public from vicious dogs. Moreover, in my view, the current laws are perfectly adequate.
Level 3
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn by the citizen?
(A) The public would not be effectively protected
from violent dogs by breed-specific legislation.
(B) A good home environment is more important
than breeding to a dog’s disposition.
(C) The home environment of dogs would not be
regulated by breed-specific legislation.
(D) Irresponsible dog owners are capable of producing dogs with bad dispositions regardless of generations of careful breeding.
(E) The vicious-dog laws that are currently in effect do not address the effects of human behavior in raising and training dogs.
120 - Section 3 - Question 06
MC that I got wrong on 1/2/25
Because metallic mirrors absorb some light, they waste energy. When light strikes a metallic mirror, electrons in the mirror move, using energy and dimming the reflected image. As a result, metallic mirrors cannot be used in applications in which minimizing energy loss is important, such as high-powered lasers.
Level 1
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the argument’s main conclusion?
(A) Metallic mirrors reduce the effectiveness of
high-powered lasers.
(B) Part of the light falling on metallic mirrors tends to be absorbed by them.
(C) High-powered lasers require mirrors that
conserve energy.
(D) A tendency to waste energy is the most
significant disadvantage of metallic mirrors.
(E) Metallic mirrors are unsuitable for applications
where it is crucial to minimize energy loss.
128 - Section 3 - Question 02
MC I got wrong on 1/3/25
Geographer: Because tropical storms require heat and moisture, they form especially over ocean surfaces of at least 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit), ocean temperatures that global warming would encourage. For this reason, many early discussions of global warming predicted that it would cause more frequent and intense tropical storms. But recent research shows that this prediction is unlikely to be borne out. Other factors, such as instabilities in wind flow, are likely to counteract global warming’s effects on tropical storm development.
Level 3
Which one of the following most accurately expresses
the conclusion drawn in the geographer’s argument?
(A) Tropical storms are especially likely to form
over warm ocean surfaces.
(B) Contrary to early discussions, global warming is not the only factor affecting the frequency and
intensity of tropical storms.
(C) If global warming were reversed, tropical storms
would be less frequent and less intense.
(D) Instabilities in wind flow will negate the effect of global warming on the formation of tropical storms.
(E) Global warming probably will not produce more frequent and intense tropical storms
135 - Section 4 - Question 14
