Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT138 S2 Q17 Explanation

Brianna: It would have been better

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

TopicsMain Conclusion

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Stimulus

Brianna: It would have been better to buy a tree last summer rather than this summer. The one we bought this summer is struggling to survive this summer's drought. If we had bought one last summer, it would have been able to survive this summer's drought, because last summer's roots. Trees with established roots can better withstand droughts.

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
17.

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

Answer choices

  1. Correct85% picked this

    It would have been better to buy a tree last summer rather

    Why this is right

    This matches Brianna’s conclusion word for word.

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

  2. Evidence1% picked this

    The tree purchased this summer is struggling to survive this

    This is a premise in the argument.

  3. Intermediate Conclusion9% picked this

    If a tree had been purchased last summer, it would be better able to survive

    This is an intermediate conclusion; it is supported by premises and supports the main point.

  4. Evidence2% picked this

    A tree purchased last summer would have

    This is a premise in the argument.

  5. Evidence3% picked this

    Trees with established roots can better

    This is a premise in the argument.

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