LSAT - Law School Admission Principle and Parallel Reasoning Questions and Answers

Question 1

A city ordinance states that it is illegal to operate a food truck within 500 feet of any brick-and-mortar restaurant.
The reasoning is to prevent unfair competition for established businesses that pay property taxes.
A new gourmet ice cream truck is fined for operating 400 feet from a pizzeria.
Which of the following principles would most strongly justify the city's action?

Accepted Answer

All businesses, regardless of their specific product, that sell food are considered competitors under the law.

Answer

Mobile businesses should not be subject to the same regulations as businesses with fixed locations.

Answer

Pizzerias and ice cream trucks do not sell competing products, so the ordinance should not apply.

Answer

The primary purpose of city ordinances is to generate revenue through fines.

Question 2

Argument: 'Every time I've eaten at The Golden Spoon, the service has been excellent. Therefore, the next time I eat there, the service will be excellent.' The pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

This stock has decreased in value for the past three days. Therefore, it will continue to decrease tomorrow.

Answer

All swans I have ever seen are white. Therefore, all swans must be white.

Answer

The sun has risen every day in recorded history. Therefore, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Answer

My new car has a five-star safety rating, so it is guaranteed to be safe in any accident.

Question 3

Principle: A person is morally obligated to fulfill a promise only if the promise was not made under duress. Which of the following situations best conforms to this principle?

Accepted Answer

David promised to pay for a broken window after his neighbor threatened to sue him. David is not morally obligated to pay.

Answer

Maria promised her friend she would help her move, and she did. Therefore, Maria was morally obligated to help.

Answer

A company promises a bonus to employees who meet a sales target. An employee who meets the target is morally entitled to the bonus.

Answer

James promised to keep a secret but revealed it when he realized it involved a crime. He was not morally obligated to keep the secret.

Question 4

A law professor states: 'To be a successful lawyer, one must be both diligent and articulate. Julia is very diligent, but she is not articulate. Therefore, Julia will not be a successful lawyer.' Which of the following arguments has a logical structure that is most parallel to the professor's argument?

Accepted Answer

To bake a good cake, you need flour and sugar. This recipe uses flour, but not sugar. Therefore, this recipe will not produce a good cake.

Answer

To win the game, the team must have a strong offense or a strong defense. The team has a strong offense, so they will win the game.

Answer

Anyone who is a doctor must have gone to medical school. Robert is a doctor, so he must have gone to medical school.

Answer

If you study hard, you will pass the exam. You did not study hard, so you will not pass the exam.

Question 5

A company policy states that employees who have been with the company for over ten years are entitled to an additional week of vacation. Mark has been with the company for twelve years but was denied the extra week because he recently switched from a part-time to a full-time role. The company's action is based on a principle that could be stated as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Only full-time employment counts toward the ten-year service requirement.

Answer

All employees with over ten years of service deserve extra vacation.

Answer

Changing employment status resets an employee's years of service.

Answer

Company policies can be changed at any time without notice.

Question 6

Argument: 'All successful startup founders are risk-takers. All risk-takers are optimistic. Therefore, all successful startup founders are optimistic.' The reasoning in which of the following arguments is most similar?

Accepted Answer

All dogs are mammals. All mammals are animals. Therefore, all dogs are animals.

Answer

All cars have wheels. All wheels are round. Therefore, all cars have something that is round.

Answer

Some politicians are lawyers. Some lawyers are honest. Therefore, some politicians are honest.

Answer

All birds can fly. A penguin is a bird. Therefore, a penguin can fly.