Logical Reasoning

PT108 · S3 · Q8 A metaphor is the application

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

A metaphor is the application of a word or phrase to something to which it does not literally apply in order to emphasize or indicate a similarity between that to which it would ordinarily apply and that to which it is—nonliterally—being applied.

Conclusion (But)

This cannot be so. i.e., not all uses of language are metaphorical i.e., some uses of language are not metaphorical

Evidence (for)

In order for there to be any nonliteral uses of any words, then some uses of words must be literal.

Evaluate

Whenever we're doing a Main Conclusion question, we prime our brain before reading the paragraph with the two biggest patterns of where they put the conclusion on Main Conclusion: - first sentence - as some sort of rebuttal

This argument did the second: Some extremists claim X. But .. [I disagree]. Here's why.

Conclusion

We just want an equivalent rephrasing of "this cannot be so", so we're looking for something like, "not all uses of language are metaphorical" or "some uses of language are not metaphorical".

8.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?

  1. Correct

    It is not the case

    Why this is right

    This matches the "this cannot be so" conclusion. We can run it through our two-pass checklist 1. does it sound like the author's opinion? Yes. She's rebutting some extremists. 2. is it supported by some explicit claim? Yes. It's supported by everything after the word "for" FABS: for, after all, because, since always indicate supporting ideas

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

    82% picked this

  2. Either all uses of words

    Never Said

    This is closer to sounding like the premise, which is the final claim. Sometimes on Main Conclusion the conclusion will be the final claim, but it's pretty rare, so always second guess yourself if you're about to pick an answer that seems to match the final claim. This is not only sounding like the premise, but it wasn't ever said. The author's premise was more like, "either some uses of words are literal or no uses of words are nonliteral (aka, they're all metaphorical):

    3% picked this

  3. Nonliteral meaning is possible only

    Never Said

    This is meant to feel like an Inference or Necessary Assumption, so that a student might pick it because it feels like a correct answer (to a different question type). We're just looking for a regurgitation of the actual explicit conclusion: "it cannot be so [that all uses of language are metaphorical]"

    11% picked this

  4. Metaphors are nonliteral uses of

    Background

    This is just a background fact presented before we get into the "some extremists" and the author's rebuttal argument. We're just looking for a regurgitation of the actual explicit conclusion: "it cannot be so [that all uses of language are metaphorical]"

    2% picked this

  5. The ordinary meanings of words

    Never Said

    This is meant to feel like an Inference or Necessary Assumption, so that a student might pick it because it feels like a correct answer (to a different question type). We're just looking for a regurgitation of the actual explicit conclusion: "it cannot be so [that all uses of language are metaphorical]"

    1% 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