PrepTest 116

[lcid:3561] Prep Test 116 LSAT — Logical Reasoning — S2 Logical reasoning

Question prompt

Editorial: It is clear Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

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

Question Type

Strengthen with Sufficient Premise Questions

Answer choices

  1. A
    does not leave it Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Incorrect. While it's noted that education does leave it up to the individual how to act on given information, it's not noted that propaganda lacks this feature, so this answer doesn't guarantee the conclusion.
  2. B
    does not offer information Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Incorrect. It's noted that education does involve offering information in all its complexity, and propaganda relies on the repetition of simplistic slogans, but that could offer the information in all its complexity. It's possible that there are certain situations where a simplistic slogan does capture the entirety of a situation.
  3. C
    does not involve the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Incorrect. Propaganda does involve such repetition, so this answer runs counter to the conclusion.
  4. D
    attempts to influence behavior Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    Correct. Argument or Facts:
    Argument

    Valid or Flawed:
    Flawed

    Question Type:
    Strengthen with Sufficient Premise

    Stimulus Summary:
    Propaganda and Education are always different
    (1) Propaganda — Attempt to influence with repeated simple slogans
    (2) Education — Attempts to influence by presenting full information and letting the recipient make up their mind
    Propaganda is more successful.
    Conclusion — Health education" is usually propaganda, not education.

    Answer Anticipation:
    The conclusion puts "health education" into a specific category—propaganda, not education. The premises define both propaganda and education. As such, in order to reach the conclusion that "health education" falls into the propaganda camp, the argument needs to show that "health education" usually meets that definition rather than that of education.

    So any answer that connects "health education" to repeated, simple slogans rather than presenting information in its full complexity should be considered.

    Answer Explanation:
    This answer states directly that "health education" meets the definition of what propaganda is "nothing but, so it guarantees the conclusion that health education" is usually propaganda.

    Key Takeaway:
    When the LSAT provides definitions for words, make sure that you're being very precise in how you read them. Especially when there are two definitions that overlap in part but not in others, the answers are going to start conflating the definitions!
  5. E
    is very successful in Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Incorrect. This answer has an absolute term—very successful." The stimulus compares the relative success of education and propaganda. As such, both education and propaganda could be very successful (as long as the latter is even more successful than education), and thus this answer wouldn't distinguish between the two.

What this tests

Discussion