Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT138 S4 Q2 Explanation

All the books in the library

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

TopicsMethod

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Stimulus

All the books in the library have their proper shelf locations recorded in the catalog. The book Horatio wants is missing from its place on the library shelves, and no one in the library is using it. Since it is not checked out to a borrower display, it must have been either misplaced or stolen.

What this question is testing

Method

Your task

Describe how the argument proceeds — the technique it uses to reach its conclusion.

Common trap

Answers that describe a method the argument doesn't actually use.

Winning move

Track the role each statement plays, then match that to the choice describing the same moves.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
2.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used

Answer choices

  1. Bad Conclusion Match3% picked this

    An observation about one object is used as a basis for a general conclusion regarding the

    This is not a general conclusion regarding similar objects. The conclusion is specifically about the book Horatio is looking for.

  2. Bad Conclusion Match3% picked this

    A deficiency in a system is isolated by arguing that the system failed to control one of the objects that

    This accuses the conclusion of "isolating a deficiency in a system". That's a bad match for "His book was either misplaced or stolen". And the evidence certainly doesn't address the library failing to control for anti-theft or anti-misplacement.

  3. Bad Conclusion / Evidence Match2% picked this

    A conclusion about a particular object is rebutted by observing that a generalization that applies to most such objects does not apply

    The conclusion here is not rebutting anyone else's claim. It is the author arriving at last of her remaining hypotheses. Also, the evidence never says "most books that can't be found are X, but that's not the case here".

  4. Bad Conclusion Match1% picked this

    A generalization is rejected by showing that it fails to hold in

    The conclusion is not rejecting a generalization. It's arriving at two final hypotheses to explain a specific phenomenon.

  5. Correct91% picked this

    The conclusion is supported by ruling out other possible explanations of

    Why this is right

    It's an observed fact that the book Horatio is looking for is not on the shelf. The author arrives at her final two hypotheses (misplaced / stolen) by ruling out a lot of alternative explanations (checked out, on display, waiting to be shelved).

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

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