Logical Reasoning

PT103 · S2 · Q3 Trisha: Today’s family is declining

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

  • 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

Trisha: Today’s family is declining in its ability to carry out its functions of child-rearing and providing stability for adult life.

Trisha's Comments

1. Today's family is declining in its ability to carry out its functions of child-rearing and providing stability for adult life.

2. There must be a return to the traditional values of commitment and responsibility

Jerod's Responses (if any)

1. Does Jerod argue that, or ?

He seems to acknowledge that today's family might be declining in its ability to provide stability. He doesn't seem to address whether it's declining in its ability to carry out child-rearing functions.

2. Does Jerod argue that, ?

He does. He says . Most people don't find today's families to be that bad. Criticisms are exaggerated and potentially harmful.

Evaluate

We could say they're disagreeing over whether or more simply over whether "something must be done about today's family".

Goal

The question stem has already queued up the beginning of the answer choice. If we have to start this answer with "the institution of the family", then we should look for something like,

they're disagreeing over whether the institution of the family

3.

Trisha and Jerod disagree over whether the institution of the family is

  1. Correct

    adequate as it is

    Why this is right

    Jerod would agree with this, We ought to leave what is good enough alone. And Trish seems to argue the disagree position that "the traditional family is not adequate as it is": Today's family is declining / there must be a return to the traditional values

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

    91% picked this

  2. changing over time

    Unsupported Disagree Position

    Both speakers would seem to agree that the traditional family is changing over time. We can't find support that either speaker would argue, "the institution of the family has not changed at all over time".

    1% picked this

  3. valued by most people

    Both Positions Unsupported

    We can't find support for the claim that "the institution of the family is valued by more than 50% of people" nor can we find support for the claim that "it isn't valued by most people".

    2% picked this

  4. not going to survive

    Unsupported Agree Position

    We could probably support that Jerod believes the Disagree position, "the institution of the family is going to survive". But it would be too strong to say that Trisha believes, "the institution of the family is not going to survive". She thinks it's performing worse than before and needs some fixing, but she doesn't say anything with the fatalistic pessimism of "it's not going to survive".

    1% picked this

  5. no longer traditional

    Unsupported Disagree Position

    Both speakers seem to acknowledge that the institution of the family has changed from the "traditional" one: There must be a return to the traditional values implies that it no longer is the traditional family. Contemporary families may be less stable than traditionally also implies that it no longer is the traditional family. We can find support for either person arguing that "the institution of the family is still traditional".

    5% picked this

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