Logical Reasoning

PT5 · S1 · Q21 Whenever a major political scandal

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

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Whenever a major political scandal erupts before an election and voters blame the scandal on all parties about equally, virtually all incumbents, from whatever party, seeking reelection are returned to office.

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.

21.

If the voters’ reactions are guided by a principle, which one of the following principles would best account for the contrast in reactions described above?

  1. Whenever one incumbent is responsible

    Trap

    10% picked this

  2. When a major political scandal

    Trap

    11% picked this

  3. Incumbents who are rightly blamed

    Trap

    13% picked this

  4. Major political scandals can practically

    Trap

    22% picked this

  5. Correct

    When major political scandals are

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

    45% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free