LNAT Argument Component Identification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read: 'Exercise improves mood. Improved mood increases productivity. Hence, companies should provide gym facilities.' What is the role of 'Improved mood increases productivity'?
- Main conclusion
- Intermediate conclusion (Correct answer)
- Background assumption
- Counter-premise
Correct answer: Intermediate conclusion
This statement is an intermediate conclusion: it follows from the first premise and in turn supports the final conclusion about gym facilities.
Question 2: Which of the following is an ASSUMPTION rather than a stated premise in the argument: 'She studied hard, so she will pass the exam'?
- She studied hard.
- She will pass the exam.
- Hard study reliably leads to passing exams. (Correct answer)
- Exams are a fair measure of ability.
Correct answer: Hard study reliably leads to passing exams.
The unstated assumption is that hard study reliably leads to passing — without this bridge, the stated premise cannot logically support the conclusion.
Question 3: A passage argues: 'While critics claim the policy is too costly, the long-term economic benefits outweigh the short-term costs.' What logical structure is being used?
- Premise → conclusion with no acknowledgment of opposition
- Concession-rebuttal structure (Correct answer)
- Circular reasoning
- Analogy-based reasoning
Correct answer: Concession-rebuttal structure
The author grants the critics' cost concern (concession) before arguing that benefits outweigh costs (rebuttal) — a classic concession-rebuttal structure.
Question 4: In LNAT argument analysis, which word below most reliably indicates a conclusion rather than a premise?
- Because
- Since
- Therefore (Correct answer)
- Given that
Correct answer: Therefore
'Therefore' is a conclusion indicator, signaling that what follows is inferred from earlier material, whereas 'because,' 'since,' and 'given that' introduce premises.
Question 5: Passage: 'Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystem stability. Ecosystem stability is essential for agriculture. We must therefore protect biodiversity.' Which component directly makes the link between the two premises?
- The word 'therefore'
- The unstated assumption that agriculture is worth protecting (Correct answer)
- The phrase 'ecosystem stability'
- The conclusion itself
Correct answer: The unstated assumption that agriculture is worth protecting
The unstated assumption is that agriculture matters enough to warrant action — without it, the inference from ecosystem stability to 'we must act' is incomplete.
Question 6: Which pair correctly matches the argument components with their roles?
- Premise: what the author wants to prove; Conclusion: the evidence provided
- Premise: evidence or reason given; Conclusion: the claim being proven (Correct answer)
- Premise: the opposing view; Conclusion: the author's rebuttal
- Premise: a definition; Conclusion: an example
Correct answer: Premise: evidence or reason given; Conclusion: the claim being proven
A premise provides evidence or reasons, while a conclusion is the claim those reasons are meant to establish — this is the core distinction in argument analysis.
Question 7: A student identifies the following as the main conclusion: 'Many countries have adopted carbon taxes.' Is this identification correct?
- Yes, because it is the most important factual statement.
- No, because it is a factual premise, not an inferential claim. (Correct answer)
- Yes, because it appears last in the passage.
- No, because conclusions must contain the word 'therefore.'
Correct answer: No, because it is a factual premise, not an inferential claim.
A plain factual report about what countries have done is a premise (evidence), not a conclusion — conclusions are the claims that the evidence is meant to establish.
LNAT Argument Component Identification 3
Read: 'Exercise improves mood.
Improved mood increases productivity.
Hence, companies should provide gym facilities.' What is the role of 'Improved mood increases productivity'?