LSAT Logical Reasoning › Determining which answer best expresses the point at issue
Director: The most influential movie in history is likely Orson Welles’ classic Citizen Kane. No other single film has helped so many filmmakers in their craft. Indeed, a recent study showed that nearly 85% of modern films implemented at least one filmmaking technique pioneered by Citizen Kane. The film was especially noteworthy in its cinematography, its use of multiple narrators in storytelling, and in its use of music to set a scene.
In evaluating the director’s argument it would be most helpful to know whether
there is evidence showing whether filmmaking techniques from any other films have been as widely implemented as have those from Citizen Kane
filmmakers who implemented techniques pioneered by Citizen Kane gave credit to Orson Welles after doing so
the study cited in the argument took into account every single modern film rather than merely accounting for a majority of them
audiences regard Citizen Kane as highly as do modern filmmakers
Citizen Kane is studied in more film schools than any other movie
The conclusion, found in the first and second sentences of the paragraph, is that Citizen Kane is the single most influential film as far as filmmakers are concerned. To evaluate this claim, it is necessary to know whether filmmaking techniques from other films have been as widely implemented. Note that the argument does not claim that Citizen Kane is the most popular film among audiences or in film schools.
Sam: No person should ever be made to alter their religious beliefs by government decree, which the new law threatens with its vague language.
John: The new law does not allow anyone to violate another person's religion, which is precisely why the language in the law had to be vague.
The point at issue in this argument is best stated as __________.
whether the language in the law allows someone's religion to be violated
whether religion should be protected by legislative means
whether vague laws are able to be effective in reality
whether religion has a role to play in government
whether government should do anything to interfere in religious beliefs
While the argument is over a law about the protection of religion, the issue is not about the relation between religion and government, as both sides agree that religion should be in some way protected from interference. The issue is whether the law's language, and especially its vagueness, appropriately protects an individual's religious beliefs.
Jeans have been a staple of fashion for many decades. They may have remained fashionable for so long because they are durable, comfortable, and easy to maintain. It seems unlikely that any one of these factors alone could account for the popularity of jeans. After all, many articles of clothing have gone out of style even though they were comfortable. The same can be said of clothing items that were durable and clothing that was easy to maintain.
With which of the following would the author most likely agree?
Jeans are durable but this fact alone does not explain why they have been popular for so long
Jeans are popular for three reasons--they are durable, comfortable, and easy to maintain
It is impossible to explain why jeans have been popular for so long
Jeans have been popular for longer than any other clothing item
Clothing items will be popular for decades if a variety of factors are all met
The author acknowledges that jeans are durable, but also makes clear that none of the three factors, alone, can explain why jeans have been so popular. The author does not reach a firm conclusion as to what is the correct explanation.
Director of the transportation department: We could save money over the next few years by closing lanes on highways and deferring repairs. The cost savings would be well worth the moderate increase in traffic jams. The roads will eventually need to be repaired, but the department could stay within budget over the next several years, which should be a top priority. If we continue to overspend, we may face a financial disaster.
Deputy Director: Closing road lanes would lead not only to a considerable increase in traffic jams but would also lead to increased accidents and death. That said, we’ve explored other options and closing the lanes seems to be our only viable plan to save money, and there is no question that we must accomplish that.
The Director and Deputy Director most likely disagree about whether?
closing road lanes will lead to a considerable increase in traffic jams
the roads eventually should be repaired
the department is at risk of overspending
road lanes should be closed
there are alternative ways to save money
Both people seem to agree that road lanes must be closed and that reducing spending should be a top priority. The Director and Deputy Director disagree about whether closing road lanes will lead to a considerable increase in traffic jams. The Director stated that the lane closures would lead only to a moderate increase.
John: There are very few reasons to support the new state immigration laws, and several reasons to oppose them. Most importantly, the laws fail to include any "Dream Act" provision for immigrant college students, and thus provide no incentive for persons here illegally to gain a higher education.
Mary: But you've failed to mention the sweeping reforms to the residency process included in the laws. Those reforms make understanding levels of citizenship much simpler for those who don't speak English. If parents of college students can't even figure out their own statuses, they're unlikely to understand how to improve the status of their children.
The dialogue provides the most support for the claim that John and Mary disagree over whether
the lack of a "Dream Act" provision is the most important consideration in supporting or opposing the new state immigration laws
there are several reasons to oppose the new state immigration laws
a "Dream Act" provision will be effective for the majority of immigrant college students
college students should be able to gain residency based on completion of a higher education
the new state immigration laws are superior in some ways to the prior laws
John specifically states that the lack of a “Dream Act” provision is the most important omission in the new laws. Mary implies that process reforms are more important, as they make the laws easier to understand for non-English speakers and thus are a precursor to other substantive provisions.
Jane: Nowadays 3D effects are seen as a distracting gimmick that most people no longer appreciate. The recent trend toward producing more 3D movies is not a good financial strategy for movie studios. In fact, I and my friends refuse to attend movies in 3D, and I know many others that feel the same way.
Bill: But you fail to take into account the fact that 3D ticket prices are higher than 2D ticket prices. The difference in price offsets the lower attendance at 3D movies. I, for one, appreciate having the choice between 2D and 3D films.
The dialogue provides the most support for the claim that Jane and Bill disagree about whether
it is financially wise for movie studios to continue producing movies in 3D
people appreciate 3D effects in movies less now than they used to
2D movies are superior to 3D movies in overall quality
ticket price differentials between 2D and 3D movies are reasonable
movie studios ought to offer audiences the option to choose between 2D and 3D films
Bill’s rebuttal to Jane’s argument is that studios can make up for the lower attendance at 3D films through increased ticket prices. Hence, he does not agree with Jane that producing 3D movies “is not a good financial strategy for movie studios.” The remaining answer choices do not contain statements about which Jane and Bill necessarily disagree, even though the topics may have been mentioned in the dialogue.
Teacher: Textbooks are just not effective for teaching some subjects to children. They don't take an interest in the topics, don't really understand them, and certainly won't remember them long term. To solve these problems we need to regularly take students to museums. Textbooks aren't a good option anymore.
Principal: It does seem that students are often distracted in the classroom. However, there are alternatives to textbooks that do not involve taking students to museums. Documentaries, for instance, can be an effective learning tool.
The teacher and principal are most likely to disagree about which of the following statements?
Taking students to museums is necessary
Students often do not understand the topics in textbooks
Documentaries can be an effective learning tool
Textbooks are not effective
Students won't remember what they learn in textbooks long term
The principal seems to suggest that museums are one of multiple alternatives to textbooks. The teacher, on the other hand, states that students must be brought to museums. The principal and teacher are most likely to disagree about whether taking students to museums is necessary.
Although the therapist uses hypnosis for all of her clients, she uses a more intensive version of hypnosis for clients who have suffered acute trauma. While her usual hypnosis techniques usually take about twenty minutes to perform, her more intensive version usually requires at least an hour to complete and takes place at a different clinic.
Which of the following statements does not logically flow from the text above?
Hypnosis is a widely accepted practice in the field of therapy.
The therapist believes that hypnosis can help all of her patients.
The therapist's usual hypnosis practice does not take place at a different clinic.
Victims of trauma often require more intensive levels of treatment than other clients.
The practice of hypnosis includes varying levels of intensity.
The correct answer is:
Hypnosis is a widely accepted practice in the field of therapy.
While the text explains how this particular therapist practices hypnosis, it does not reflect on how accepted hypnosis is in the general field of therapy.
Marie: Local charities need to proactively recruit volunteers. Otherwise, they are likely to continue being understaffed. The functioning of these charities depends on volunteers, and people will only volunteer if they know there is a need. If charities can let enough people know about that need, people will volunteer.
Tony: The charities also need more funding. Without funds, it does not matter how many volunteers sign up to help charities. If charities do try to recruit more volunteers, they will have to find new tactics because people know the need is great.
Marie and Tony most likely disagree about whether
people know there is a need for volunteers
there is a need for increased funding
local charities are understaffed
local charities should try to recruit volunteers
the functioning of charities depends on volunteers
There is no indication in the passage that Marie and Tony disagree about whether there is a need for volunteers or for funding, though they appear to disagree about the magnitude of the needs. Neither is there a direct conflict about whether charities should recruit. The parties only explicitly disagree about whether people know there is a need.
For about thirty years, government intelligence departments have spent resources equally between domestic and foreign activities. For about the same amount of time, intelligence departments have conducted covert operations in addition to intelligence gathering. This conduct has raised public concern that intelligence departments wield too much authority. In the end, though, domestic spending and covert operations may be simply a consequence of ineptness.
The author of the argument is most likely to agree with which of the following?
Intelligence departments may not wield too much power
The public's concern is justified
The public's concern is unjustified
Intelligence departments have been inept for approximately thirty years
Intelligence agencies should not engage in domestic intelligence gathering
The author states that the conduct of intelligence agencies may only indicate ineptness, in contrast with the view that the conduct indicates that the departments wield too much power. As a result, the author would agree with the statement that intelligence departments may not wield too much power.