Logical reasoning PrepTest 141 · Section 2 · Question 16

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Methods of Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Architects are awarded prizes, but they're judged based on buildings which are a result of teamwork. This is closer to movies where prizes go to the movie itself than to scientific discoveries, so architectural awards should go to buildings.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument relates architecture to both films and science, stating that it's more similar to the former than the latter, in making a recommendation about how the field should do something. The correct answer should highlight these comparisons since they make up the argument structure.

Answer Explanation:
The argument reaches a conclusion about the way awards should ("would be better") be granted in architecture by comparing that field to how awards are granted in film (similar) and science (dissimilar). This answer highlights the argument's reliance on comparisons, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Methods of Reasoning questions have a variety of reasoning structures that they utilize. However, the three main logic types on the LSAT—conditional, comparisons, causal—are still common here, and if you see one of them forming the basis for the question, use it to find the answer efficiently!

Incorrect. There's no discussion or comparison of value, so this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. There are two possibilities for what this answer choice is discussing. If the two similar practices are how prizes are awarded in science and architecture currently, the author doesn't have any criticism of how those science prizes are awarded. If the two similar practices are between making movies and making buildings, neither is criticized—instead, giving awards to the architect is criticized, which isn't the practice that's compared.

Incorrect. The two fields that are said to be disanalogous here are science and architecture. However, the argument doesn't conclude that the characteristics of science can't be used to justify a conclusion about architecture, but rather that the similarities between architecture and filmmaking provide a better model for awarding prizes.

Incorrect. The argument concludes that one action would be "better" than another, not that one is inappropriate.