LNAT Verbal Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'While all mammals are warm-blooded, not all warm-blooded animals are mammals.' Which conclusion is logically valid?
- Birds, being warm-blooded, are mammals.
- Some warm-blooded animals exist that are not mammals. (Correct answer)
- Cold-blooded animals cannot be mammals.
- Mammals are the only warm-blooded vertebrates.
Correct answer: Some warm-blooded animals exist that are not mammals.
The passage explicitly states that not all warm-blooded animals are mammals, confirming some warm-blooded animals fall outside the mammal category.
Question 2: The author argues that 'stricter sentencing deters crime.' Which piece of evidence would most WEAKEN this claim?
- Countries with harsher penalties have lower crime rates.
- Studies show most offenders do not consider sentencing length before committing crimes. (Correct answer)
- Recidivism rates are high among released prisoners.
- Public surveys show support for tougher sentences.
Correct answer: Studies show most offenders do not consider sentencing length before committing crimes.
If offenders do not consider sentencing when acting, then harsher penalties cannot deter them, directly undermining the causal claim.
Question 3: A passage distinguishes 'liberty' (freedom from external restraint) from 'license' (freedom without moral limits). Which scenario best illustrates 'license' as defined?
- A journalist publishes criticism of the government without censorship.
- A driver speeds through a school zone ignoring traffic laws. (Correct answer)
- A citizen votes in a democratic election.
- A protestor obtains a legal permit for a march.
Correct answer: A driver speeds through a school zone ignoring traffic laws.
Speeding in a school zone represents freedom of action taken without moral or legal constraint, matching the definition of 'license.'
Question 4: Which logical flaw does this argument commit? 'My grandfather smoked his whole life and lived to 95, so smoking cannot be that dangerous.'
- False dichotomy
- Ad hominem
- Hasty generalization (Correct answer)
- Circular reasoning
Correct answer: Hasty generalization
Drawing a broad conclusion about smoking's safety from a single anecdotal case is a hasty generalization.
Question 5: A passage claims: 'Economic growth always improves societal wellbeing.' Which counter-example most effectively challenges this?
- A growing economy with rising inequality and worsening public health outcomes. (Correct answer)
- A growing economy where GDP doubles over a decade.
- A country with low growth but stable employment.
- A recession followed by rapid economic recovery.
Correct answer: A growing economy with rising inequality and worsening public health outcomes.
Growth alongside worsening inequality and health shows that GDP increase does not automatically translate to improved wellbeing for society as a whole.
Question 6: The word 'equivocate' most nearly means:
- To speak with absolute clarity and certainty.
- To use ambiguous language to avoid commitment. (Correct answer)
- To argue forcefully for a position.
- To make a logical error in reasoning.
Correct answer: To use ambiguous language to avoid commitment.
To equivocate means to use vague or ambiguous language deliberately, often to mislead or avoid making a definitive statement.
Question 7: A passage states universities should admit students based solely on academic merit. Which assumption is this argument relying on?
- All applicants have had equal access to quality education. (Correct answer)
- Universities have unlimited places for all qualified applicants.
- Academic merit is the only relevant criterion for university success.
- Standardized testing accurately measures all forms of intelligence.
Correct answer: All applicants have had equal access to quality education.
A merit-only policy is only fair if all applicants competed on a level playing field with equal educational opportunity.
LNAT Verbal Reasoning 2
A passage states: 'While all mammals are warm-blooded, not all warm-blooded animals are mammals.' Which conclusion is logically valid?