LSAC LSAC Certifications LSAT-TEST Questions & Answers

• Question 711:

  Nutritionist: Recent studies show that the height of the average American has increased 2 inches in the past 10 years, lending support to the view that modern foods stimulate growth.

  This argument would be weakened most by pointing out that

  A. statistics don't lie

  B. there are too many variables in this type of study

  C. the generic background of the subjects was not investigated

  D. the sample group used was small

  E. some people's height decreased

  Correct Answer: B

  Pointing out that "there are too many variables in this type of study" weakens the argument tremendously,

  because isolating the reason for the growth increase now becomes very difficult. Thus, we could not

  deduce that modern foods stimulate growth.

  Option [the sample group used was small] is close, as it also weakens the argument, but it isn't specific

  enough. If [the sample group used was small] were "too small," then it would be an excellent answer.

• Question 712:

  How can I write any of the essays when there are so many essays to be written?

  In terms of its logical structure, the remark above most closely resembles which one of the following?

  A. How can he buy a new car when he is already deeply in debt?

  B. How can she increase her collection of books when it is already so large?

  C. How can he iron any of his shirts when he has so many shirts that need ironing?

  D. How can she visit London and Paris when she has not yet visited New York and Washington?

  E. How can they raise horses when they already raise so many cows?

  Correct Answer: C

  In each case, the verb ("iron".."need ironing";"write".."to be written") is repeated, while the adjective ("many") modifies the repeated noun.

• Question 713:

  Nutritionist: Recent studies show that the height of the average American has increased 2 inches in the past 10 years, lending support to the view that modern foods stimulate growth. The argument would be strengthened by pointing out that

  A. statistical studies were done on which foods were eaten

  B. modern foods are unhealthy

  C. all average heights are increasing

  D. comparisons have been studied in control groups E. there is no such thing as an average American

  Correct Answer: D

  Options [modern foods are unhealthy] and [there is no such thing as an average American] weaken the argument, option [statistical studies were done on which foods were eaten] repeats the argument, and [all average heights are increasing] makes no sense, since" average height" is a single composite of all heights.

• Question 714:

  By refusing to ban smoking in restaurants, the city council has put the financial wellbeing of restaurant owners above the health of the citizens of this city. No doubt, the council would support the restaurants if they decided to use asbestos tablecloths and to barbecue using radioactivity. These devices would be no more risky.

  The author of this paragraph makes her case by arguing A. from experience

  B. from example

  C. by authority

  D. from observation

  E. from analogy

  Correct Answer: E

  The passage makes its point by analogy, comparing the dangers of smoking to the dangers of asbestos and radioactivity.

• Question 715:

  There are no edible fish in the streams of this county because there are no pesticide controls. Which one of the following assumptions must be made before the conclusion above can be reached?

  A. Edible fish cannot be found in areas where there are no pesticide controls.

  B. If there are pesticide controls, there will be many edible fish.

  C. Without adequate pesticide controls, the fish population will rapidly decline.

  D. If there are pesticide controls, there will be some edible fish.

  E. With pesticide controls, the fish population will rapidly increase.

  Correct Answer: A

  The assumption is that where there are no pesticide controls, no edible fish can be found, not the reverse as in options [If there are pesticide controls, there will be there will be many edible fish], [If there are pesticide controls, there will be some edible fish.] and [With pesticide controls, the fish...]

• Question 716:

  By passing more and more regulations allegedly to protect the environment, the state is driving the manufacturing industry away. And when the employers leave, the workers will follow. The number of new no growth or environmental rules passed each year is increasing by leaps and bounds. Rich environmentalists who think they are sympathetic to workers have no real sympathy for the blue-collar employees are injured by their activities.

  One major manufacturer has been fined for failing to establish a car-pool plan. Another is accused of polluting the air with industrial emissions, although everyone knows that two thirds of the pollutants come from cars and trucks. No wonder the large manufacturers are moving to states with fewer restrictive laws. And as the manufacturers go, unemployment and the number of workers leaving the state will rise more rapidly than ever before. Which one of the following is NOT an argument of this passage?

  A. Environmentalists are responsible for depriving workers of their jobs.

  B. When workers leave a state, it is a sign that manufacturers will follow.

  C. A car-pool law should not be enforced, as cars and trucks are responsible for most air pollution.

  D. Large manufacturers prefer states with fewer restrictions.

  E. A rise in unemployment will lead to an increase in workers leaving the state.

  Correct Answer: B

  The passage makes no comment on workers leaving before a manufacturer. It argues that the loss of manufacturers leads to a loss of workers [A rise in unemployment will lead to an increase...].

• Question 717:

  Unlike most graduates of American high schools, all graduates of high schools in Bermuda have completed four years of advanced mathematics.

  Which one of the following, if true, would best explain the situation described above?

  A. Math anxiety is higher in the United States than in Bermuda.

  B. There are far more high schools and high school students in the United States than in Bermuda.

  C. More students in America take fulltime jobs without completing high school.

  D. Math programs in American high schools are frequently understaffed.

  E. High Schools in Bermuda require four years of advanced mathematics for graduation.

  Correct Answer: E

  Though choices [Math anxiety is higher in...], [There are far more high schools and...], [More students in America take fulltime...] and [Math programs in American high schools are...] might contribute to increased study of math in Bermuda, option [High Schools in Bermuda require four years of...] leaves no doubt. High schools in Bermuda require four years of advanced math for graduation; high schools in the United States do not.

• Question 718:

  By passing more and more regulations allegedly to protect the environment, the state is driving the manufacturing industry away. And when the employers leave, the workers will follow. The number of new no growth or environmental rules passed each year is increasing by leaps and bounds. Rich environmentalists who think they are sympathetic to workers have no real sympathy for the blue-collar employees are injured by their activities. One major manufacturer has been fined for failing to establish a car-pool plan. Another is accused of polluting the air with industrial emissions, although everyone knows that two thirds of the pollutants come from cars and trucks. No wonder the large manufacturers are moving to states with fewer restrictive laws. And as the manufacturers go, unemployment and the number of workers leaving the state will rise more rapidly than ever before.

  The author's argument that strict environmental laws will eventually lead to loss of workers in the state will be most weakened if it can be shown that

  A. so far, the number of manufacturers who have left the state is small

  B. the unemployment rate has climbed steadily in the last three years

  C. the unemployment rate has climbed steadily in the last three years

  D. most workers who leave the state give as their reason for leaving poor environmental quality

  E. several other manufacturing states have strict environmental laws

  F. rich environmentalists are more powerful in many other states

  Correct Answer: C

  The passage argues that environmental restrictions will lead to losses of jobs and hence workers, but if workers are already leaving because the environmental quality is poor, the argument is seriously weakened.

• Question 719:

  In 1975, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government has exclusive rights to any oil and gas resources on the Atlantic Outer Shelf beyond the three-mile limit. Which one of the following must be true in order for this ruling to be logical?

  A. The U.S. Supreme Court has met recently.

  B. The Atlantic Outer Shelf may possibly contain oil and gas resources.

  C. No oil and gas resources exist within the three-mile limit.

  D. In 1977, the Court reversed this ruling.

  E. Oil and gas on the Atlantic Shelf has not been explored for in the past three years.

  Correct Answer: B

  A ruling on resources must at least presume the possibility that such resources exist; otherwise it is absurd. All other choices are irrelevant to the ruling.

• Question 720:

  Tom is test driving a blue car. After driving for a short while he comes to the following conclusion: Since this car is blue, it must not accelerate quickly. The foregoing conclusion can be properly drawn if it is also known that

  A. all red cars accelerate quickly

  B. there are some slow blue cars

  C. all blue cars may not accelerate slowly

  D. all cars that accelerate quickly are red

  E. all slow cars are red

  Correct Answer: D

  The given statement tells us only that the car is blue. For us to be assured that it is slow we must know either that every blue car is slow or that no blue car accelerates quickly. Option [all cars that accelerate quickly are red] restricts quick acceleration to red cars.