Logical reasoning PrepTest 112 · Section 4 · Question 18

Question prompt

People who have political Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: B

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Strengthen Questions

Answer Anticipation

One important thing to always track on the LSAT is the groups that are featured in the stimulus. Here, there are three: the politically powerful; inventors of technology; and inventors of ethics. The premise is about the first, whereas the conclusion is about the second and third.
Since the conclusion is about different groups than the premises, the assumption of the argument must link those groups. So what does the argument assume the connection is?
Well, the premises are about how the politically powerful see new technologies and ethics (the former good; the latter bad). The conclusion is about the inventors of these things, but it’s in two pieces, so let’s look at each individually.
Why does the argument think that the inventors of new technology will benefit from their ingenuity? Because the politically powerful see new technologies as good. Why does the argument think that the inventors of new ethics will suffer for it? Because the politically powerful see new ethics as bad. As such, the argument is assuming that the politically powerful determine the outcomes for those who invent these things. Let’s find an answer supporting that.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Those who offer new Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Justifying political power falls more into the new ethics/ideas camp, which the politically powerful view as dangerous and thus wouldn’t reward. This answer cuts against the argument, so it doesn’t strengthen it.
  2. B
    Politically powerful people tend Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    This answer connects the views of the politically powerful to the outcomes for inventors of new technology and ethics/ideas. The powerful view new technologies as useful, so this answer suggests the inventors of the new technologies would be rewarded. The powerful view new ethics as threatening, so this answer suggests the inventors of the new ethics would be punished. Since this answer supports the conclusion, it’s the correct answer.
  3. C
    Ethical inventiveness and technical Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Someone could demonstrate both technical and ethical ingenuity and face both positive and negative consequences because of it, so the argument doesn’t need the inventors to be distinct groups.
  4. D
    New technologies are often Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    The answer is about how inventors are viewed and thus rewarded/punished by the politically powerful, so what new technologies are actually used for is out of scope. That said, if anything, new technologies threatening the politically powerful would cut against the details of the argument, which undermines it instead of supporting it.
  5. E
    Many people who possess Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    While this answer lines up with the argument, it’s about the views of the inventors, not the politically powerful. While the inventors are relevant to the argument, their views aren’t, since they don’t necessarily reflect the views of the powerful.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 11%
  2. B Credited 58%
  3. C 20%
  4. D 3%
  5. E 7%

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Discussion

  • Why answer B 1 reply

    Started by jharbour

  • B VS. C 1 reply

    Started by hfatima1

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