PrepTest 149

[lcid:3694] Prep Test 149 LSAT — Logical Reasoning — S3 Logical reasoning

Question prompt

Michele: In my professional 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

Point at Issue Questions

Answer choices

  1. A
    why companies should consider Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Incorrect. Neither speaker discusses the specifics of why a company would or should consider a database overhaul, so this answer is out of scope.
  2. B
    whether the problems experienced Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Incorrect. Alvaro believes the benefits can outweigh the problems, but that doesn't preclude the opposite from occasionally being true (when the coding is done poorly), and since Michele believes the problems usually outweigh the rewards, this isn't a point at issue between them.
  3. C
    which kinds of database Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Incorrect. There's no discussion of different kinds of database overhauls, so this answer is out of scope.
  4. D
    what a company should Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    Correct. Argument or Facts:
    Argument/Argument

    Valid or Flawed:
    Flawed/Flawed

    Question Type:
    Point at Issue

    Stimulus Summary:
    M: In my experience, database migrations are more of a headache than they're worth, so businesses shouldn't do them.

    A: The headaches are because of sloppy work, so businesses should just do it right.

    Answer Anticipation:
    Michele and Alvaro discuss the same situation—a company considering a database overhaul. Neither really discusses the premise of the other. Michele's argument is based on the problems outweighing the rewards, and Alvaro doesn't necessarily disagree. Instead, he highlights that an overhaul can potentially be done without headaches if the job is done well because these problems are "always" caused by bad coding—something Michele doesn't address.

    In bringing up these different considerations, they reach different and incompatible conclusions—Michele recommends thinking twice before doing the overhaul; Alvaro recommends doing it but doing it right. Since they reach different conclusions based on premises that don't overlap, that conclusion is going to be the point at issue between them.

    Answer Explanation:
    Michele recommends thinking twice when considering a database overhaul. Alvaro recommends doing it, but doing it right. These different recommendations are the point at issue between them, so this is the correct answer.

    Key Takeaway:
    For an answer to be a point at issue between two speakers, both speakers need to have an opinion on it. When only one speaker mentions an issue, it can't be a point at issue!
  5. E
    when professional experience is Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Incorrect. Neither questions that professionals are needed for such an overhaul, so this isn't a point at issue between them.

What this tests

Discussion

  • Explanation 1 reply

    Started by zia305