Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT14 S2 Q8 Explanation

Some years ago, an editorial

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

TopicsMethod

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Stimulus

Some years ago, an editorial defended United States government restrictions on academic freedom, arguing that scientists who receive public funding cannot rightly "detach themselves from the government’s policies on national security.” Yet the same editorial criticized the Soviet government for not allowing scientists to “detach themselves from politics.” If there is case, the editorial should have explained what that difference is.

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
8.

The author of the passage criticizes the

Answer choices

  1. Trap0% picked this

    disputing certain factual claims made in

  2. Correct93% picked this

    pointing out an apparent inconsistency in

    Why this is right

    Answer B is correct.

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

  3. Trap3% picked this

    describing an alleged exception to a general claim made in

  4. Trap1% picked this

    refuting an assumption on which the argument of the editorial appears to

  5. Trap2% picked this

    drawing a conclusion from the editorial different from the conclusion drawn by the writer

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