Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT124 S2 Q24 Explanation

Newscaster: In order for the

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

TopicsParallel

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Stimulus

Newscaster: In order for the public to participate in a meaningful way in the current public policy debate, one requirement is that the issues be stated in terms the public can understand. The mayor’s speech has just stated these issues in such terms, so now the public a meaningful way in the current public policy debate.

What this question is testing

Parallel

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
24.

Which one of the following most closely parallels the newscaster’s argument in

Answer choices

  1. Bad Conclusion Match: cannot2% picked this

    One must know Russian if one is to read Dostoyevski’s original text of Crime and Punishment. Rachel has never learned Russian; therefore she cannot

    We know our conclusion should have very weak wording, saying that something is possible. This conclusion is certain that something is not true.

  2. Bad Conclusion Match: must have5% picked this

    In order to reach one’s goals, one must be able to consider these goals carefully. Laura has reached her goals, so she must have

    We know our conclusion should have very weak wording, saying that something is possible. This conclusion is saying that something is definitely true.

  3. Bad Evidence / Conclusion Match8% picked this

    One cannot confuse the majority of one’s students if one wants to be a good teacher. Hugo wants to be a good teacher; therefore,

    This doesn't match our original structure. We're given a conditional, but the premise talks about the trigger and the conclusion talks about the outcome. In the original argument, the premise talks about the outcome and the conclusion talks about the trigger. P1: A requires B. Being a good teacher requires not-confusing most of your students. P2: B is true. Hugo wants to be a good teacher (A) C: thus, A might be true. Hugo might not-confuse most of his students (B)

  4. Bad Conclusion Match: must have14% picked this

    In order to discover the meaning of certain seldom-used words, one must use a good dictionary. Paul has used a good dictionary, so Paul

    We know our conclusion should have very weak wording, saying that something is possible. This conclusion is saying that something is definitely true.

  5. Correct72% picked this

    One must at least have warm clothing if one is to survive in a very cold climate. Jerome has obtained warm clothing; therefore, he

    Why this is right

    This matches our original argument. We get a conditional premise. The premise talks about the outcome and the conclusion talks about the trigger. P1: A requires B. Surviving in a very cold climate requires warm clothing. P2: B is true. Jerome has warm clothing. C: thus, A might be true. thus, Jerome might survive in very cold climate

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

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