Why cant Riverdale be ranked first in friendliness

shouldn't it also be that Riverdale can't be ranked first in cleanliness since it would have to be beat the score for Riverdale in friendliness?

Hello @izyat, I think you are just misusing the term "higher ranking." Try to think in terms of "better ranking," which is the language used in the stimulus. Number 1 is a better/higher ranking than number 5. This is why Riverdale cannot be 1st in friendliness. Number 1 is the highest possible ranking, so it couldn't possibly have a higher ranking in climate. In the LSAT world, try to place "higher," "better," "before," at the front of the line (the #1 spot) in a linear game. "Lower," "worse," and "after" belong at the back of the line. Unless it gives you a specific setup you need to visualize, like floors of an apartment building, try to be consistent when it comes to ranking and sequencing.

Hello, Can I please get explained what "no ties" necessarily means? I am having a hard time understanding that rule. Thank you.

The first rule means that there are always five slots for each of the three criteria. That is, each slot 1-5 is filled by a different city. We could have 1:p 2:q 3:r 4:s 5:t, but not 1:p 2:q 3:r and s, 4:t.