Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT102 S2 Q1 Explanation

Psychiatrist: We are learning that

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

TopicsMain Conclusion

Keep going in LSAT Lab

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Free to start

Full official LSAT questions are available through LawHub. This page provides LSAT Lab's explanation, strategy, and review tools without republishing the full official question.

Stimulus

Psychiatrist: We are learning that neurochemical imbalances can cause behavior ranging from extreme mental illness to less serious but irritating behavior such as obsessive fantasizing, petulance, or embarrassment. These findings will promote compassion and tolerance when looking at a mental illness, quirk, or mere difference between two persons, since as simply having the same neurochemical balances as most people.

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
1.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the

Answer choices

  1. Correct82% picked this

    Understanding the role of the neurochemical in behavior will foster empathy

    Why this is right

    This is our best match for the second claim, "These findings will promote compassion and tolerance". "These findings" = the learning we've been doing that neurochemical imbalances can cause a wide range of behavior. This answer alludes to that as "understanding the role of the neurochemical in behavior". "will promote compassion and tolerance" matches up with "will foster empathy toward others".

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

  2. Background Fact6% picked this

    Neurochemical imbalances can cause mental illness and

    This matches the meaning of the first sentence, but our Conclusion is the 2nd claim (the first half of the 2nd sentence).

  3. Unstated: main determinants1% picked this

    Neurochemical balances and imbalances are the main determinants of

    Not only does this not match the meaning of the 2nd claim at all, it's not even something that was said in the paragraph, so it can't be our conclusion.

  4. Premise8% picked this

    Being mentally healthy is a matter of having the same neurochemical balances

    This matches the 3rd claim, which is a premise, signified by the Support Indicator "since".

  5. Unstated: enhance our theories2% picked this

    Advances in neurochemistry enhance our theories of

    This not match the meaning of the 2nd claim at all, which says that "advances in neurochemistry will enhance our compassion and tolerance towards those with mental illness or quirks". The idea of "enhancing our theories" was never talked about in the paragraph, so it can't be our conclusion.

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free