Logical Reasoning

PT140 · S3 · Q12 Consumer advocate: Even if one

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Consumer advocate: Even if one can of fruit or vegetables weighs more than another, the heavier can does not necessarily contain more food.

Conclusion

Even if one can of fruit/veggies is heavier than another, the heavier one doesn't necessarily contain more food.

Evidence

Canned fruit/veggies are typically packed in water, and some companies include more water than others.

Evaluate

Whenever we do Main Conclusion questions, we prime our brains before reading the paragraph, .

That way as we're reading that first sentence, we're specifically listening for whether it sounds like the Author's Opinion. This first sentence doesn't have any obvious opinion giveaway, but we confirm that it is indeed the conclusion when we continue reading the paragraph and feel the following ideas supporting that first one.

why should we believe that the heavier can might not have more fruit? - because, they put water in cans, so the heavier can might just have more water.

Goal

Since we know the first claim is supported by the rest of the paragraph, we know the first claim is the Main Conclusion. So, let's go find an answer that looks like the first sentence.

We want "the heavier can might not contain more food", or anything similar in meaning.

12.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the consumer advocate's argument?

  1. Correct

    The heavier of two cans

    Why this is right

    This looks like an equivalent meaning match for our first sentence, which is where we determined the Conclusion was.

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

    78% picked this

  2. The weight of the water

    Premise

    This doesn't match the first sentence. It matches a detail in the 2nd sentence.

    3% picked this

  3. Nothing stops unscrupulous canning companies

    Premise Last Sentence Trap

    This doesn't match the first sentence. It matches the last sentence. Sometimes, on Main Conclusion, the last claim will be the Conclusion, but it's fairly rare. It's the #1 place students assume the conclusion will be, so LSAT only puts it there if they're being really friendly. Be suspicious if you're ever picking the final claim as the conclusion on Main Conclusion.

    5% picked this

  4. Some canning companies include less

    Unstated Inference

    We can derive this idea from the premises, but it's never said. It's definitely not a meaning match for the first sentence.

    5% picked this

  5. The heavier of two cans

    Unstated Inference

    We can derive this idea from the premises, but it's never said. It's definitely not a meaning match for the first sentence.

    9% picked this

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