Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT125 S2 Q18 Explanation

Columnist: Taking a strong position

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

TopicsPrinciple-Conform

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Stimulus

Columnist: Taking a strong position on an issue makes one likely to misinterpret or ignore additional evidence that conflicts with one's stand. But in order to understand an issue fully, it is essential to consider such evidence impartially. Thus, it is best not to take a already considered all important evidence conflicting with that position.

What this question is testing

Principle-Conform

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
18.

The columnist's reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the

Answer choices

  1. Reversal31% picked this

    It is reasonable to take a strong position on an issue if one fully understands the issue and has considered the

    This reverses the logic UF → SP of the argument’s assumption.

  2. Irrelevant Relationship6% picked this

    To ensure that one has impartially considered the evidence regarding an issue on which one has taken a strong position, one should avoid misinterpreting

    This connects the opposing point in the argument with the argument’s premise, but does not help establish the conclusion.

  3. Correct60% picked this

    Anyone who does not understand an issue fully should avoid taking a strong

    Why this is right

    This bridges the gap between ~UF → ~SP taking a strong position and understanding an issue fully.

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

  4. Irrelevant Relationship3% picked this

    One should try to understand an issue fully if doing so will help one to avoid misinterpreting or

    This connects the opposing point in the argument with the argument’s premise, but does not help establish the conclusion.

  5. Term Shift1% picked this

    It is reasonable to take a strong position on an issue only if there is important evidence

    Whether there is important evidence conflicting with a position is different than whether one has considered important evidence conflicting with that position.

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