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LSAT-TEST Sample Questions

  1. Question 1

    Q1

    A city planner argues: 'In the five years since we installed protected bicycle lanes on major avenues, the number of reported cycling accidents has decreased by 30%. This demonstrates the unequivocal success of the bicycle lane project in improving cyclist safety.' The reasoning in the city planner's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

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    Correct answer: C

    The argument's primary flaw is that it assumes the bicycle lanes caused the decrease in accidents simply because the lanes were installed before the decrease was observed. This is a classic correlation-causation fallacy. Other factors could be responsible, such as a city-wide decrease in traffic, a new helmet law, or fewer people cycling overall. The argument fails to eliminate these alternative explanations.

  2. Question 2

    Q2

    Financial Analyst: 'Innovatech Corp's stock price has risen by over 20% in each of the past three years, a period during which they launched three groundbreaking products. Given their announcement of another major product launch this quarter, we can confidently expect another year of at least 20% growth for Innovatech's stock.' The analyst's conclusion logically depends on which of the following assumptions?

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    Correct answer: B

    The analyst's argument projects past performance into the future based on a single recurring condition (a product launch). For this projection to be valid, the analyst must assume that the key variable—the success of the product launch—will be consistent with past launches. If the new product fails, the entire basis for the prediction of stock growth collapses. Therefore, this assumption is necessary for the conclusion to hold. The other options are not strictly necessary for the argument to work.

  3. Question 3

    Q3

    Archaeologist: The peculiar wear patterns on this flint artifact suggest it was used for scraping animal hides. Some critics, however, argue the patterns could have been caused by natural tumbling in a riverbed over centuries. Our recent discovery that the artifact was found in a sealed, arid cave, far from any ancient river, supports our initial hypothesis. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the archaeologist's argument?

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    Correct answer: C

    The archaeologist's argument rests on discrediting the alternative explanation (river tumbling). This option directly attacks the physical evidence that would be expected if the alternative explanation were true. By showing that evidence of water erosion is absent, it significantly weakens the 'riverbed' theory and, by elimination, strengthens the 'scraping tool' hypothesis.

  4. Question 4

    Q4

    In a certain legislature, a bill can only be introduced by a committee. Any bill that is approved by a majority of the committee in which it originates is then sent to the floor for a general vote. A bill becomes law only if it is approved by a majority of the committee and then receives a two-thirds majority of the general vote on the floor. However, any committee member who votes against a bill in their own committee is not permitted to vote on that same bill if it reaches the floor. If the statements above are true, which of the following must also be true?

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    Correct answer: D

    For a bill to become law, it needs a 2/3 majority of the general vote. However, any committee members who voted against the bill are barred from this vote. Since the bill only needed a simple majority (e.g., 6 out of 10) to leave committee, there could be committee members who opposed it. These dissenters (e.g., 4 members) cannot vote on the floor. This means the pool of voters from the committee is reduced, and those who can vote from the committee are all supporters. It is mathematically very difficult, and often impossible, for the remaining committee members alone to constitute a 2/3 majority of the entire legislature. Therefore, support from non-committee members is essential. This statement must be true.

  5. Question 5

    Q5

    A public health official stated, 'Our city's new program, which provides free, fresh vegetables at community centers, is clearly working. In the year since the program began, hospital admissions for diet-related illnesses like type 2 diabetes and hypertension have fallen by 15%.' Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the official's argument?

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    Correct answer: B

    This option introduces a significant alternative cause (a confounding variable) for the observed health improvement. If the same people benefiting from the vegetable program also started exercising more, it becomes impossible to attribute the 15% drop in hospital admissions solely to the vegetable program. The improved health outcomes could be due to exercise, the vegetables, or a combination of both, thus weakening the official's direct causal claim about the program's success.

  6. Question 6

    Q6

    A judicial ruling established that a journalist who receives classified government documents from a source is not liable for prosecution for publishing them, provided the journalist played no role in the illegal acquisition of the documents. The ruling's reasoning was that holding journalists liable would create a chilling effect on the press's ability to report on matters of public interest. Which one of the following principles most accurately underlies the judicial ruling described?

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    Correct answer: C

    This principle perfectly captures the logic of the ruling. The 'law' would be the one prohibiting publication of classified material. The 'enforcement' would be prosecuting the journalist. The 'fundamental societal good' is the press's ability to report on public matters (preventing a 'chilling effect'). The ruling prioritizes this societal good over the strict enforcement of the law against the journalist, which aligns with the principle.

  7. Question 7

    Q7

    Art Critic: The new painting by the celebrated artist is being praised as a masterpiece simply because of the artist's fame. But a true masterpiece must be judged on its own merits, not on the reputation of its creator. Therefore, because its acclaim is based on the artist's reputation, the painting is not a true masterpiece. The flawed pattern of reasoning in the art critic's argument is most similar to that in which one of the following?

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    Correct answer: C

    The flaw in the original argument is assuming that because the reason for the painting's acclaim is illegitimate (artist's fame), the acclaim itself is undeserved and the painting is not a masterpiece. It confuses the reason for a belief with the truth of that belief. This option perfectly mirrors that flaw. It argues that because the reason for accepting the speech is illegitimate (charisma), the speech itself must be false. Both arguments incorrectly infer the falsity of a conclusion from the flawed basis of its support.

  8. Question 8

    Q8

    Maria: To reduce urban air pollution, we must mandate that all new vehicles sold in the city be electric. This is the only way to eliminate tailpipe emissions, the primary source of pollutants.

    Leo: While electric vehicles are a step forward, your proposal is too narrow. A more effective strategy would be a comprehensive plan that includes investing heavily in public transportation, creating more pedestrian-friendly zones, and promoting remote work, thereby reducing the total number of vehicles on the road.

    Leo's response to Maria proceeds by

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    Correct answer: D

    Leo does not disagree with Maria's goal (reducing pollution) or her premise that electric vehicles help ('a step forward'). Instead, he critiques her solution as 'too narrow' and proposes a 'more effective strategy' that is 'comprehensive'. His plan targets the root issue—the number of vehicles—rather than just the type of vehicle. This correctly describes his method as accepting the goal but offering a different, broader means to achieve it.

  9. Question 9

    Q9

    The following passage is adapted from a 2022 article on astrobiology.

    The search for extraterrestrial life has often been guided by the principle of following the water. However, the discovery of extremophiles—organisms thriving in environments previously thought uninhabitable—has radically expanded our conception of where life might exist. From the crushing pressures and superheated waters of deep-sea hydrothermal vents to the acidic rivers of volcanic regions, these tenacious organisms demonstrate that life is far more adaptable than once imagined. This resilience has profound implications for astrobiology, particularly in the context of icy moons like Jupiter's Europa.

    Beneath Europa's thick ice shell is believed to lie a vast liquid water ocean, warmed not by sunlight but by tidal forces from Jupiter's immense gravity. While this subglacial ocean is dark and cold, the potential existence of hydrothermal vents on its seafloor presents a tantalizing possibility. On Earth, such vents support entire ecosystems independent of sunlight, with chemosynthetic bacteria forming the base of the food web. These bacteria derive energy from chemical reactions, metabolizing compounds like hydrogen sulfide. If similar vents exist on Europa, they could provide the necessary energy and chemical gradients to support a unique biosphere.

    Thus, the study of Earth's extremophiles serves as more than a mere biological curiosity; it provides a crucial analog, a proof of concept that life can persist in the absence of the conditions we find on Earth's surface. While sending a probe to drill through miles of ice is a monumental engineering challenge, the lessons learned from our planet's most inhospitable corners suggest that the potential reward is a discovery that would reshape our understanding of life in the cosmos.

    The main point of the passage is to

    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The passage begins by introducing extremophiles, connects them to astrobiology, focuses on Europa as a prime example, and concludes by stating that extremophiles provide a 'crucial analog' and 'proof of concept' for this search. This option accurately summarizes this entire argumentative arc. The other options are either too narrow (describing bacteria) or go beyond the scope of the text.

  10. Question 10

    Q10

    The following passage is adapted from a 2022 article on astrobiology.

    The search for extraterrestrial life has often been guided by the principle of following the water. However, the discovery of extremophiles—organisms thriving in environments previously thought uninhabitable—has radically expanded our conception of where life might exist. From the crushing pressures and superheated waters of deep-sea hydrothermal vents to the acidic rivers of volcanic regions, these tenacious organisms demonstrate that life is far more adaptable than once imagined. This resilience has profound implications for astrobiology, particularly in the context of icy moons like Jupiter's Europa.

    Beneath Europa's thick ice shell is believed to lie a vast liquid water ocean, warmed not by sunlight but by tidal forces from Jupiter's immense gravity. While this subglacial ocean is dark and cold, the potential existence of hydrothermal vents on its seafloor presents a tantalizing possibility. On Earth, such vents support entire ecosystems independent of sunlight, with chemosynthetic bacteria forming the base of the food web. These bacteria derive energy from chemical reactions, metabolizing compounds like hydrogen sulfide. If similar vents exist on Europa, they could provide the necessary energy and chemical gradients to support a unique biosphere.

    Thus, the study of Earth's extremophiles serves as more than a mere biological curiosity; it provides a crucial analog, a proof of concept that life can persist in the absence of the conditions we find on Earth's surface. While sending a probe to drill through miles of ice is a monumental engineering challenge, the lessons learned from our planet's most inhospitable corners suggest that the potential reward is a discovery that would reshape our understanding of life in the cosmos.

    The passage suggests that if life exists in Europa's ocean, it would most likely be dependent on

    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C

    The passage explicitly states that Earth's hydrothermal vent ecosystems are 'independent of sunlight' and are based on 'chemosynthetic bacteria' that 'derive energy from chemical reactions.' It then posits that similar vents on Europa could 'provide the necessary energy and chemical gradients to support a unique biosphere.' This strongly implies that any life found there would be dependent on chemical energy sources, not sunlight.

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