Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT1 S4 Q19 Explanation

Can any research be found

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsMain Conclusion

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Stimulus

Can any research be found to validate the contention that those who spend time plucking out their gray hairs have more negative attitudes toward the elderly than those who shrug their shoulders about their gray hairs? Unless a person’s psychopathology leads him or her to overgeneralize, there is no necessary connection. Certainly accepted ethical standards. But there is nothing immoral about disliking some concomitants of the aging process.

What this question is testing

Main Conclusion

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
19.

Which one of the following best expresses the main point of

Answer choices

  1. Correct76% picked this

    It cannot be assumed that people who dislike some of the physical concomitants of growing old necessarily have

    Why this is right

    This matches the meaning of the conclusion by emphasizing that disliking aging's physical effects doesn't necessarily mean disliking elderly people.

    Skill tested: Main Conclusion · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

  2. Premise18% picked this

    To dislike some of the physical concomitants growing old is reasonable, while to dislike the

    This is a premise that explains part of the reasoning but reflects more the support detail about what is reasonable and immoral, rather than the main contention.

  3. Too Strong / Unstated1% picked this

    Since no one likes the physical concomitants of growing old, it is wrong to dislike the elderly merely

    Nothing in the argument was saying that "no one likes the artifacts of aging". This answer is also weird because it presents a premise and a conclusion. Occasionally on "main point" (not "main conclusion"), we'll see a holistic correct answer like that. But neither claim in this choice captures the main idea that it's possible to hate the effects of aging without having ill will towards the elderly.

  4. Too Strong / Unrelated to Goal2% picked this

    Being elderly is fine, but the process of becoming elderly is not; and people need to understand the

    The author never says that "the process of being elderly is not fine". Her main point isn't about the distinction between being old and the process of becoming old. Her main point is about the distinction between hating the effects of again and hating the elderly.

  5. Unrelated to Goal4% picked this

    To dislike the elderly is immoral, and to do so just because one dislikes some of the physical concomitants

    This repeats a premise and then introduces a brand new idea about being "unreasonable". It doesn't resemble, "It's possible to hate the effects of aging but still feel positive thoughts about the elderly".

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