McGraw hills LSAT, 2014 edition (mcgraw hills lsat) falconer, russ johnson, drew

Welcome to McGraw-Hill’s LSAT Congratulations!You’ve chosen the LSAT guide from America’s leading educational publisher You probably know us from many of the textbooks you used in school and college Now we’re ready to help you take the next step — and get into the law school of your choice This book/media package gives you everything you need to succeed on the test You’ll get in-depth instruction and review of every topic tested, tips and strategies for every question type, and plenty of practice exams to boost your test-taking confidence To get started, go to the following pages where you’ll find: How to Use This Book/Media Download Package: Step-by-step instructions to help you get the most out of your test-prep program Your LSAT Action Plan: Follow these suggested weekly study schedules to make the best use of your preparation time Checklist: LSAT Question Types and Solution Steps: Have a quick review guide at your fingertips 50 Top LSAT Strategies: Make sure you’re ready for test day with this handy list of all the most important test-taking strategies Essential LSAT Vocabulary: Learn the terminology required for mastering logic games and logical reasoning questions Getting the Most from the Media Download and the Free Online Practice Tests and Problem-Solving Videos: Sharpen your skills with interactive, on-screen practice tests downloaded from the McGraw-Hill Professional Media Center, then log on to the companion website for additional test-taking practice and to view videos demonstrating the use of problemsolving strategies to answer LSAT questions (If you purchased the enhanced version of this ebook, you needn’t go online for the problem-solving videos — you already have them!) ABOUT McGRAW-HILL EDUCATION This book has been created by McGraw-Hill Education McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment, and reference materials in both print and digital form McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages With a broad range of products and services — from traditional textbooks to the latest in online and multimedia learning — we engage, stimulate, and empower students and professionals of all ages, helping them meet the increasing challenges of the 21st century knowledge economy How to Use This Book/Download Package This book and media download package provides all the material you need to score well on the LSAT It will teach you the knowledge that is required for this difficult exam, including information about each type of question the test includes It also provides ample practice for you to refine the skills you are learning and then test yourself with full-length practice tests For best results, follow these steps Learn about the LSAT Chapter will familiarize you with the format of the LSAT and briefly introduce its four different sections You will also find valuable tips on how to approach test day and information about how the test is scored The Diagnostic Test in Chapter will help you get a sense of your strengths and weaknesses and how much you need to improve Prepare for the Logic Games section LSAT Logic Games not “come naturally” to most test takers They require a particular set of skills—classifying the games by type, diagramming the games, symbolizing the clues, and making deductions—that are unfamiliar to many people Fortunately, these skills are readily learnable and improvable Chapter introduces these skills with step-by-step demonstrations You can learn more about how to solve logic games and other LSAT questions by viewing the videos on this book’s companion website Prepare for the Arguments sections Because there are two Arguments sections on each test, half of your LSAT score will be derived from your performance on Arguments questions Chapter introduces you to the ten different types of questions you’ll encounter in the Arguments section It also contains guidelines on how to identify right answers and common types of wrong answers for each of these question types Prepare for the Reading Comprehension section Chapter lays out annotative reading, the style of reading that is best-suited to the requirements of the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT Chapter also provides techniques for tackling each of the six different question types you will encounter in Reading Comprehension and provides strategies for approaching the comparative reading passage Prepare for the Writing Sample section Because the Writing Sample section is not scored, it is the least important of the test’s four sections Chapter details a five-paragraph format you can use to write a response to the Writing Sample that is sure to be satisfactory in the event an admissions officer reads your essay Take the Practice Tests Get ready for the actual exam by taking the practice tests at the end of the book, downloaded from the Media Center, and online at MHPracticePlus.com When you take each test, try to simulate actual testing conditions Use a timer and use the answer sheet provided You’ll gain experience with the test format, and you’ll learn to pace yourself so that you can earn your highest score in the time allowed Your LSAT Action Plan To make the best use of your LSAT preparation time, you’ll need a personalized action plan that’s based on your needs and the time you have available This book and media download package has been designed for flexibility; you can study the material it contains in whatever order serves you best Thus, to maximize the effectiveness of your preparation time, you should spend a few minutes to develop a realistic plan of action that focuses on the areas in which you are the weakest, takes into account the amount of time you have to prepare, and provides the discipline you need to pace yourself and achieve your goals Components of a Good Preparation Strategy Make sure your action plan includes all the areas you need to cover There are three broad areas you need to consider in any well-rounded action plan to master the LSAT Knowledge and Skills You’ll need a combination of knowledge and skills to find the correct answers to LSAT questions Chapters 3-6 of this book give specific guidance on the knowledge and skill areas required Here is a broad summary: Logic Game skills: You will need to learn how to diagram each game’s set up (i.e., its fact pattern), symbolize clues, make deductions, and input new information into your diagram Arguments skills: You will need to identify the different parts of an argument, understand exactly what the argument does or does not say, ascertain the place in an argument where key information is missing, and describe and analyze the quality or pattern of the argument’s reasoning Reading Comprehension skills: You will need to identify the main idea of each paragraph in the passage, understand the main idea of the passage as a whole, annotate the passage so that you can quickly locate relevant details, and utilize your annotations as you work the questions Writing skills: You will need to master a five-paragraph essay format in which you write a clear, well-organized essay that persuasively addresses both the strengths and weaknesses of two competing policy proposals Pacing and Endurance The LSAT is both a sprint and a marathon With unlimited time, most test takers would get most of the questions right But you don’t have unlimited time, so it is essential to develop the ability to work through the questions quickly without sacrificing accuracy But speed and accuracy are not enough At nearly four hours in length, the LSAT also requires endurance You must have extraordinary mental stamina to stay focused throughout the test The best way to prepare yourself for the pacing and endurance challenges of the LSAT is to take practice tests, observing strict time limits There are several Practice Tests included with this book: in the back of the book, online, and on the Media Center Test-Taking Strategies To maximize your performance on the LSAT, you need to have a good understanding of the test, including all the question types you’ll encounter Before you take the test, be sure you know the instructions for each part of the test and have no confusion about the tasks you’ll be asked to perform Knowing the instructions will not only avoid confusion but save valuable time during the test since you won’t have to waste time figuring out the instructions You’ll also need a good guessing strategy You not lose any points for a wrong answer, so you should answer every question This means that on some questions, you will need to guess What differentiates good test takers from great test takers is the ability to guess in such a way as to maximize the chances for a correct answer If you don’t know the correct answer, try to eliminate incorrect answers You can increase your odds of guessing correctly from the 20 percent of a completely random guess to 25, 33, or even 50 percent, depending on how many answer choices you’re able to eliminate Creating Your Personalized Action Plan A good LSAT action plan has two components: (1) studying and learning the skills, strategies, and techniques presented in chapters through of this book; and (2) practicing those skills, strategies, and techniques on as many sample questions as possible But every action plan will be different, as its contents will be determined by the needs and priorities, available time, and even the personality of the individual test taker It’s important that you make an LSAT action plan that’s realistic, something you can actually stick to Take stock of your commitments to school and work and plan accordingly Map out consistent times each day and each week when you will be able to spend time working on LSAT prep Whatever action plan you create for yourself should include the following three steps: Step 1: Identify Your Needs The LSAT is a unique test While parts of it are likely to be familiar, it also contains some question types that you probably have never encountered before Thus, it’s important to begin your action plan by taking a diagnostic exam Doing so will help you both familiarize yourself with the LSAT and also determine which areas of the test you’ll need to focus on during your preparation Step 2: Build Your Skills Each section of the LSAT tests a different skill set The process of improving your LSAT score starts with learning and refining the skills and techniques you’ll use to approach each section of the test The cases in chapters through introduce these techniques and help you build your skills in applying them Step 3: Practice under Test-Like Conditions Improving your performance on the LSAT is like learning to ride a bike; the only way to it is with consistent, repeated practice Once you’ve learned how to approach each section of the LSAT, the final step is to practice applying your new skills under test-like conditions You can practice using the two Practice Tests that appear at the back of this book, the two practice tests on the Media Center, and the two practice tests online at MHPracticePlus.com/LSAT In addition, the LSAT that was administered in June of 2007 has been made available online as a free practice exam You can download a copy of it at http://www.lsac.org/jd/pdfs/SamplePTJune.pdf Sample LSAT Action Plans On the following pages are two sample action plans The first is a plan you can follow if you have two months to prepare; the second assumes you have one month to prepare In general, the more time you can spend studying and practicing, the more likely you are to significantly improve your score So if you’re still trying to decide when you need to get started, remember: the earlier the better You can tweak these plans to suit your own individual needs, or you can modify them to fit a two-week, sixweek, or ten-week schedule Sample Action Plan — If You Have Two Months to Prepare Two months is an adequate time for most people to prepare for the LSAT, but the time you’ll need depends on how busy you are with school, work, or personal commitments and on how much of an effort you’ll need to reach your target score Week Take the LSAT Diagnostic Test in Chapter of this book It will help you get a sense of your starting point in preparing for the test and which problem-solving skills you need to work on Using the LSAC’s online law-school database, review the admissions criteria of the law schools you’re most interested in Based on your undergraduate GPA, calculate the LSAT score you need to get to make yourself competitive for admission to these law schools For more on how to use this database, see Chapter Visit LSAC.org’s “Shop for Prep Tools” page, which you can access at https://os.lsac.org/Release/Shop/Publications.aspx, and order the volume entitled, “10 New Actual LSAT PrepTests w/ Comparative Reading.” For $23.95, you’ll get 10 real LSATs you can use for practice What’s more, the exams you’ll get were administered very recently (between September 2007 and October 2010), so they are likely to be very similar to the exam you end up taking Read the introduction and Cases through in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments Work all of the Conclusion, Deduction, and Principle questions in the Arguments sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Work them at your own pace, not under timed conditions Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations to understand why you missed any questions you missed Read the introduction, Case 1, and Case in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension Week Read the introduction and Cases through in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games Work all of the one-tiered ordering games and all of the grouping games in the Logic Games sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Work them at your own pace, not under timed conditions Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations to understand why you missed any questions you missed Read Cases through in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension Work the four passages in the Reading Comprehension section in Practice Test at the back of this book Work them at your own pace, not under timed conditions Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations to understand why you missed any questions you missed Week Work the four passages in the Reading Comprehension section in Practice Test at the back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing the techniques and studying the answer explanations Read Case in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games Work all of the two-tiered ordering games in the Logic Games sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implement ing the techniques and studying the answer explanations Read Cases through in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments Work all of the Assumption, Strengthen, Paradox, and Weaken questions in the Arguments sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing the techniques and studying the answer explanations Week Read Case in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games Work all of the “1-2-2 or 1-1-3?” games in the Logic Games sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing the techniques and studying the answer explanations Read Cases through 10 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments Work all of the Describe and Flaw questions in the Arguments sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing the techniques and studying the answer explanations Based on your score on the diagnostic exam and the success you’ve had in working the practice Arguments questions, make a preliminary decision about whether it makes sense for you to attempt to work any Parallel questions If it could alter or change the results You not know, but it definitely makes the city’s results suspect and gives at least a partial explanation of the discrepancy Answer E is another change in traffic conditions that could explain the increase in accidents This also gives at least a partial explanation for the discrepancy The correct choice is answer A 12 Answer: A STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Flaw question The question asks you to identify the error in reasoning in the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument states that Jack said he was not going to include the marketing department in a meeting, but people left the meeting with a report that the marketing department had promised to produce and deliver at the meeting, so at least some members of the marketing department must have been at the meeting STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You might guess that the answer will identify the flaw as the assumption that the marketing department is the only department that could produce that particular sales report STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A is a close approximation of that exact flaw It says that the argument fails to establish that something which is true for some people is true for only those people Just because the marketing department promised to produce and deliver the report does not mean they are the only people who could produce and deliver the report Someone else at the meeting could have fulfilled Jack’s need This is most likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options Answer B cannot be correct because the only such term used in the argument is the importance Jack put on the report, but this is not a flaw and is irrelevant to the logic of the argument Answer C ignores the basis for the conclusion, that the report was delivered, and focuses on whether someone has a right to be at the meeting, which is an irrelevant factor, since you not know whether or not the marketing department was at the meeting in the first place Answer D is about Jack’s interest in the report, but whether or not he wanted the report is unimportant since the reasoning is based on the fact that the report was produced and delivered at the meeting, so this cannot be your answer Finally, answer E says that the flaw is that Jack could have changed his mind based on changing circumstances, but you have no evidence of that change The correct choice is answer A 13 Answer: B STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Conclusion question The question asks that you identify a statement that must be true based on the statements in the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument is a series of “if … then” statements Since the statements are in the negative, it might be helpful to create the contrapositive The first statement: if you can repair the water heater, then you must be skilled with tools The second statement: if you can perform the duties of a maintenance engineer, then you must be able to repair a water heater Since both statements share a term (repair a water heater), you can also say that if you can perform the duties of a maintenance engineer, then you must be skilled with tools STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will say that if you can perform the duties of a maintenance engineer, then you must be skilled with tools STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be your answer because you cannot reverse the second statement “If A then B” does not mean “if B then A.” Answer B is exactly your contrapositive and must be your answer, but you should review the remaining options to be sure Answer C has the same problem as answer A You cannot reverse the contrapositive “if … then” statement and expect it to be true Answer D adds the word probably to the statement, which changes the meaning of the statement and makes it unworkable with your logical statements Concerning answer E, you must consider joining the statements to say that if you have no skill with tools at all, then you will not be able to perform the duties of a maintenance engineer But once again, the reverse of this statement is not true, and this is why answer E cannot be correct The correct choice is answer B 14 Answer: D STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is an Assumption question The question asks that you choose from among the answers the assumption the artist requires to make the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The artist argues essentially that the meaning of a work of art is variable and that the intentions of the artist are irrelevant Therefore, the interpretation reveals more about the critic than the artist STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You expect the correct answer will link the meaning of a work of art directly to the critic or interpreter STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be correct because it links understanding of the art to the artist’s history, which is in direct conflict with the statements saying that the artist’s intentions are irrelevant to an interpretation Answer B cannot be correct because it states that the interpreter can never know the real intentions of the artist, but the art critic does not base the argument on not being able to know the artist’s intentions Rather, the critic feels that those intentions are irrelevant to any interpretation Answer C is similar to answer A in that it expresses the opposite of what the critic is arguing Answer D makes a direct connection between the meaning of the work of art and the interpreter This is the assumption as you formulated it and is likely the right answer, but you have one more option to consider Answer E might be something the critic would say at the end of the argument, but nothing in the statements before you show that the critic is seeking to establish the validity of interpretations Rather, the critic is making an observation about the nature of interpretations of works of art This cannot be your answer The correct choice is answer D 15 Answer: D STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Parallel question The question asks you to identify which of the answers follows the same pattern of reasoning as the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument says that a study proves that replacing an older power plant with a newer one reduces the incidence of major illnesses but does not distinguish between conventional and nuclear power plants Therefore, the argument claims, there is no increased health risk from living next to a nuclear power plant The logic works off the fact that the study fails to distinguish between two types of subjects, and then makes a dubious conclusion based on that failure STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will follow the same pattern STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A is straightforward concerning the two types of bags, but it does not base its conclusion on a failure to distinguish between two types of bags It merely states its facts and derives a conclusion based on those facts This does not follow the same pattern of reasoning and cannot be your answer Answer B also features a study with no failure to distinguish between types The study gives a choice between supplements and eating fruits and vegetables, and the statement says you can choose the latter over the former without health risk This does not follow your pattern Answer C makes a dubious claim based on questionable evidence but not on any failure to distinguish between two types of drivers This cannot be your answer Answer D features a study claiming that fruits and vegetables help reduce the incidence of cancer and says this benefit exists regardless of whether they are grown conventionally or organically It then makes a dubious claim that there is no risk of increased cancer from eating fruits and vegetables containing pesticide residues The claim is based on the fact that the study does not distinguish between the types of fruits and vegetables This follows your pattern and is most likely your answer, but you have one more option to consider Answer E does not base its claim on a failure to distinguish between genetic types The dubious claim or leap in logic is based on a simple link between health and a genetic predisposition to eat an unhealthy diet Therefore, this does not follow your pattern The correct choice is answer D 16 Answer: A STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is an Inference question The question asks you to choose the statement that expresses a probable belief held by the league director based on his statements STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind Mr Anderson presents the situation, saying that his daughter’s entire soccer team was suspended because some members of the team were taunting members of the opposing team He is angry because his daughter was not one of those doing the taunting, and everyone knows the culprits The league director defends the decision to suspend the entire team by using an analogy to passengers forced to endure a delayed flight even though they had nothing to with the reason the plane is delayed It is obvious that the league director believes that Mr Anderson’s daughter is innocent but should be punished along with the others anyway STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will indicate the league director’s belief in the innocence of Mr Anderson’s daughter STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A says the league director believes Mr Anderson’s daughter might be innocent, and this is exactly what is implied by his statements since he compares her to an airline passenger who is delayed even though he or she had nothing to with the delay This is most likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options to be certain Answer B focuses on an irrelevant aspect of the director’s argument, the causes of flight delays While he might believe in this statement, there is nothing in the argument that leads us to infer that he understands why a flight is delayed He only knows that the passengers are not responsible Answer C cannot be correct because it is Mr Anderson who says “everyone” knows who taunted them, which you can assume includes his daughter, but the league director does not suggest such knowledge, and the question asks what can be inferred only from the league director’s statements, not from Mr Anderson’s Answer D cannot be correct because the league director does not indicate what result he hopes to achieve from the punishment He only attempts to justify the nature of the punishment Finally, answer E cannot be correct because the league director’s statements suggest only that he believes that many team members did not taunt His statements imply this by saying that some passengers on the plane were blameless for the delay He gives no hint regarding his idea of the number of those who actually taunted the opposing team, or in accordance with the analogy, those people responsible for the delay The correct choice is answer A 17 Answer: E STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Weaken question The question asks that you identify a vulnerability in the league director’s statements STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind Mr Anderson presents the situation, saying that his daughter’s entire soccer team was suspended because some members of the team taunted members of the opposing team He is angry because his daughter was not one of those doing the taunting, and everyone knows the culprits The league director defends the decision to suspend the entire team by using an analogy to passengers forced to endure a delayed flight even though they had nothing to with the reason the plane is delayed STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will be based on the flaw in comparing the punishment, which the league director may choose to impose or not, to the flight delay, which is unavoidable STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be your answer because the director does not discuss any facts about the incident Answer B cannot be correct because he makes no such generalization regarding the entire team He does not discuss the team at all Answer C cannot be correct because the director compares Mr Anderson’s daughter to airline customers who are blameless for the delay, so he must consider her blameless as well Answer D cannot be your answer because it is not the taunting that is being compared to the inconvenience It is the punishment that is being compared to the inconvenience Finally, answer E says that the complaint does not acknowledge that the inconvenience of a flight delay is unavoidable, but the director could have chosen not to impose the punishment This is a strong criticism of the director’s argument, so the correct choice is answer E 18 Answer: A STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Weaken question The question asks you to choose the statement that most weakens the editorialist’s argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The editorialist argues that the frontal lobe in teenagers is not well developed and adversely affects their decision making, which is why they make bad decisions while driving Thus, additional restrictions should be put on teenage drivers STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You might expect the correct answer to either debunk the idea that teenagers have an underdeveloped frontal lobe or to argue that such a deficiency has no link to poor driving behavior STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A says that most automobile accidents can be attributed to the poor functioning of a part of the brain other than the frontal lobe This would suggest that a poorly developed frontal lobe might have nothing to with poor driving, and this could very well be your answer You must review the remaining options before settling on this answer as your choice Answer B says that other parts of the brain contribute to decision making in teenagers and adults, but this still does not negate the idea that the frontal lobe, when poorly developed, may result in bad decision making and poor driving behavior This cannot be your answer Answer C is incorrect because the argument uses the term “developed,” not “smaller.” To say that a teenager’s frontal lobe is not as well developed could mean something other than size, so saying that a teenager’s frontal lobe is similar in size to that of an adult does not necessarily mean that it is equally developed Answer D cannot be your answer because it discusses a different lobe, and it is possible that some lobes develop more quickly than others Finally, answer E cannot be correct because it is comparing adults to adults while the argument is comparing teenagers to adults Logically, this cannot serve to weaken the argument The correct choice is answer A 19 Answer: B STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Parallel question The question asks you to identify which statement most closely resembles the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument states that the increased availability of electronic books has caused a decrease in sales of printed books The logic is that an increased availability of a related product is causing the decrease in demand for another product STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will follow the same pattern STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A does not conform to your model because it says the increase of one related product causes the increase of another product (increase-increase) Answer B says that the introduction of a new product has caused the decrease of an older related product This does conform to your model since the increase of one causes the decrease of the other This is likely your choice, but you must review the remaining options Answer C does not conform because it says that two products are both insufficient to dominate the market You have no idea whether the increase of one is causing the decrease or increase of the other Answer D does not conform because it says that when a child cannot one activity, the child does more of another activity A decrease leads to an increase, which is not the same as your model argument Finally, answer E does not conform because it says that a decrease in the use of union labor leads to an increase in the use of robots A decrease leads to an increase, which is similar to answer D and cannot be your choice The correct choice is answer B 20 Answer: C STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Conclusion question The question asks that you identify George’s main conclusion STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind George argues that Kristen was wrong to tell their boss that they not have the talent and resources to complete the project because they have the talent and resources George believes that Kristen told this to the boss because she did not want the project to succeed STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will state something to the effect that Kristen should not have said what she did for the reasons she gave STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be George’s conclusion George says that Kristen’s lie in this situation was wrong, but you cannot be sure he does not believe that lying in other cases is not warranted Answer B focuses on the last sentence, expecting you to assume that the last sentence is the conclusion, but it is not The last sentence is what George believes is the reason for Kristen’s lie and is meant to support his conclusion George’s argument is intended to influence you regarding Kristen’s lie, not to inform you why she lied Answer C states the conclusion George wants you to come to He wants you to believe that it was wrong for Kristen to tell their boss that the project would fail due to a lack of talent and resources This is likely your answer, but you should review the remaining options to be certain Answer D cannot be correct because Kristen is not blaming the failure on the deficiencies She is actually predicting the failure Finally, answer E cannot be your choice because it leaves out the ethical judgment George is making The correct choice is answer C 21 Answer: B STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Flaw question The question asks you to identify the statement that reveals a vulnerability in the justification George uses to make his judgment STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind George argues that Kristen was wrong to tell their boss that they not have the talent and resources to complete the project because they have the talent and resources George believes that Kristen told this to the boss because she did not want the project to succeed STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will attack the general statement regarding morality that George uses to justify his argument STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be correct because George does not invoke pity upon Kristen If anything, George is morally indignant toward Kristen Answer B refers to the statement “saying such falsehoods can never be other than morally wrong …,” which is indeed a general principle that needs further justification than the judgment regarding Kristen’s actions This is most likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options Answer C cannot be correct because surely what Kristen says concerning the project is within her control and can be judged by such a moral standard Answer D cannot be correct because you not know (and George does not say) what Kristen knows or does not know with regard to the talent and resources of the company, so George’s justification cannot be judged vulnerable on this basis Answer E cannot be correct because no cause and effect is being addressed in the argument The entire argument concerns a prediction of what might happen, not what did happen The correct choice is answer B 22 Answer: D STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Flaw question The question asks you to identify the flaw in the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument says that members of the police force were raised in economically disadvantaged households and bases this conclusion on the fact that the communities in which they grew up had household incomes lower than the average household income for the nation as a whole STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You would expect the correct answer to note that just because the communities in which the police officers grew up had a lower average household income than the nation as a whole, this does not necessarily mean that the individual families of the police officers had a lower household income than the nation as a whole STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be correct because the argument concerns the incomes of the households in which the officers grew up, not their current household income Answer B cannot be correct because it simply clarifies the basis for the argument by describing the type of neighborhood without pointing out a flaw in that description Answer C cannot be your answer because the argument concerns the police officers and where they grew up, but it is not concerned with how many communities facilitated the rearing of future police officers Answer D points out that the argument assumes that within their communities the officers lived in households with average or below-average income This is exactly the problem with the argument If the police officers grew up in households with above-average (or even the highest) incomes for their communities, then the fact that the community has below-average household income compared to the country is no longer relevant and it is possible they grew up in economically advantaged households This is most likely your answer, but you have one more option to consider Answer E cannot be correct because it raises a broader issue than the argument at hand It is true that other factors like debt and assets might affect a household’s economic situation, but household income is the logical basis the argument uses for economic advantage or disadvantage Either way, answer E is not as strong as answer D The correct choice is answer D 23 Answer: B STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Conclusion question The question asks you to identify the statement that must be true given the statements in the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument makes several assertions regarding astronauts, age, and purchasing alcohol, and you must determine whether they support one of the possible answers The statements can be simplified as follows: astronauts > 21; purchase alcohol > 21; some scientists are astronauts; some scientists purchase alcohol; and some scientists < 21 STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will be consistent with the logical statements stated in step STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be supported by the statements because you know only that some scientists are astronauts None of the statements says how many astronauts are scientists Answer B is supported by the statements If only some of the scientists are astronauts and only some of the scientists purchase alcohol, then it logically follows that some scientists are not astronauts and some astronauts not purchase alcohol This is most likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options Answer C cannot be correct because none of the statements reveals a relationship between those who purchase alcohol and astronauts Without such a statement, you cannot come to this conclusion Answer D cannot be true because the statements tell you that some scientists are not astronauts, some not purchase alcohol, and some are over the age of twenty- one Therefore, it is possible that there is at least one scientist who is not an astronaut, does not purchase alcohol, and is over twenty-one Finally, answer E cannot be correct because the first statement says that there are no astronauts under the age of twenty-one, but this does not negate the possibility that there is an astronaut who is exactly twenty-one years old The statement would have to say that there are no astronauts aged twenty-one or younger, but this is not the case The correct choice is answer B 24 Answer: C STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Paradox question The question asks you to identify the answer that resolves a discrepancy in the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument discusses how the spread of kudzu and other invasive plant species has posed a threat to biodiversity, but then the argument says that scientific studies show that invasive plant species are rarely the cause of native species’ extinctions STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You expect the correct answer to point out that while kudzu and other such invasive species threaten the biodiversity in local areas, they not threaten the overall extinction of species STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A may affect how you value the importance of the discussion by devaluing the threat to biodiversity, but it does nothing to resolve the discrepancy Answer B might be seen as a benefit of kudzu when compared to other invasive plants, but this statement does not resolve the question of why kudzu affects local biodiversity but does not cause species’ extinctions Answer C resolves the discrepancy by saying that kudzu can affect local biodiversity while not threatening the existence of species on a wider scale This is most likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options to be sure there is not a better one Answer D may be true, but it does not negate the existing damage caused by invasive species, nor does it resolve the discrepancy in the facts at hand now Answer E explains the extinctions, but it does not address why kudzu is not included in their list of causes even though it does so much damage to local bio-diversity The correct choice is answer C 25 Answer: C STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Flaw question The question asks you to identify a logical error in the scholarly review STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The author takes issue with M’s paper and its claims based on M’s tendency to ascribe bad faith to scholars who disagree with her and the distasteful nature of M’s personality Based on those observations, the author recommends that M’s paper should be ignored by scholars STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You expect that the correct answer will point out the problem with basing criticism of the paper on M’s past behavior and M’s personality STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be correct because there is no indication that the author’s account of M’s criticism is biased in any way It is very possible that the author’s recounting of M’s criticism is accurate, so this cannot be the error Answer B cannot be the error because the author does not question the veracity of M’s criticism The author merely comments on the significance of M’s criticism given the nature of the source Regardless of whether the criticism is true or not, it seems that the author would still argue that the paper does not merit attention Answer C is exactly what you expected to be the correct answer The author uses an attack on M’s character as evidence that M is not competent as a scholar and that M’s criticism does not merit attention from “serious scholars.” This is likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options to be certain of your choice Answer D cannot be the error because the author makes no assertions concerning the paper The author merely mentions the substance of M’s criticism Answer E cannot be your answer because it is more likely an error that M would commit if M argued a point based on the paper The correct choice is answer C 26 Answer: E STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is a Describe question It asks you to choose the statement that describes the role of the first sentence in the argument STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument states that regulatory regimens are created to make sure government services are delivered fairly Thus, despite qualms with the system, it is unlikely the government will simplify regulations The first sentence seems to be a supporting fact that justifies the conclusion STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for The correct answer will offer a supporting fact or premise that justifies the conclusion that regulations are unlikely to be simplified STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Answer A cannot be correct because the conclusion that regulations will not be simplified is based on the fact that they are created as they are in order to ensure fairness The statement does not weaken the conclusion Answer B cannot be true because the word thus tells you that it is the first sentence that leads the author to conclude the second sentence, not the other way around Answer C cannot be correct because instituting fairness does not justify the complexity of the regulations It justifies why they will remain complex and not be simplified Answer D cannot be correct because the phrase “growing dissatisfaction with complex regulatory systems” does not support the fairness in regulatory systems If anything, it is the one statement that controverts that effort Finally, answer E is the one premise that supports the claim that it is unlikely things will change The effort for fairness supports the conclusion that regulations will not be simplified The correct choice is answer E 27 Answer: A STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task This is an Assumption question The question asks you to choose the answer that gives an assumption upon which the argument depends STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind The argument claims that presidents cannot achieve greatness by remaining in the capital city and that they must go out and immerse themselves in communities around the country in order to gain an understanding of the citizens’ everyday experiences STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for You can guess that the correct answer will link a president’s greatness to gaining an understanding of a citizen’s everyday experiences STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice Luckily, answer A is right on the mark It says that presidents cannot achieve greatness without an intuitive grasp of a citizen’s everyday experiences and frustrations This is exactly the assumption that supports the argument and it is likely your answer, but you must review the remaining options to be certain Answer B adds details to the interaction a president may participate in while immersed in outside communities, but it is not the participation that will make the president great but the understanding the president obtains through that participation, so this cannot be your answer Answer C says the skills the president hones while in the capital city are necessary for greatness, but the argument says these are useful but not enough for greatness, so this cannot be your answer Answer D cannot be correct because the argument says nothing about life experience Its statements revolve around activities while in office Finally, answer E cannot be the correct choice because the argument does not say what approach or methodology the president must take when immersed in communities, so the president could remain impartial or get actively involved in issues The correct choice is answer A Material from the disk that accompanies the printed version of this eBook may be obtained from McGraw-Hill Professional’s MediaCenter at http://mhprofessional.com/mediacenter Some material may require a desktop or laptop computer for full access Enter this eBook’s ISBN and your e-mail address at the MediaCenter to receive an e-mail message with a download link This eBook’s ISBN is 978-0-07-181943-5 Back ... Group-Size Deduction: A deduction made in a “ 1-2 -2 or -1 -3 ?” game that enables you to determine the limited number of ways in which the elements may be distributed among the groups One-Tiered... deduction types are in play, and two-tiered ordering games are typically very fruitful on the deduction front Answer the questions in the smartest order “ 1-2 -2 or 1-1 -3 ?” Games FACT PATTERN:involves... all-in-one, last-minute reminder of these valuable concepts Use this list to check your test readiness and make sure you’re prepared to your best — and get your best score Logic Games One-Tiered