LSAT Inference from Passages 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states that researchers found no statistically significant link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity in children across 23 studies. What is the most defensible inference?
- Sugar has no effect whatsoever on children's behavior
- The evidence strongly challenges the popular belief that sugar causes hyperactivity (Correct answer)
- Parents who believe sugar causes hyperactivity are lying
- More research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn
Correct answer: The evidence strongly challenges the popular belief that sugar causes hyperactivity
The consistent null findings across 23 studies provide strong evidence against the sugar-hyperactivity link, though not absolute proof.
Question 2: A passage states: 'Every contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration. This agreement lacks consideration.' What can be concluded?
- This agreement is not a valid contract (Correct answer)
- The agreement was made under duress
- The parties did not intend to be bound
- Consideration can be implied from context
Correct answer: This agreement is not a valid contract
Since a required element is missing, the agreement fails to meet the definition of a contract stated in the passage.
Question 3: A passage describes how a novelist's early works were experimental but her later works followed conventional narrative structures. A critic calls her later work a 'retreat.' What can be inferred about the critic's view?
- The critic prefers experimental over conventional literary styles (Correct answer)
- The critic believes conventional narratives are commercially motivated
- The critic thinks the novelist lacks talent in later works
- The critic has not read the novelist's early works
Correct answer: The critic prefers experimental over conventional literary styles
Calling the shift a 'retreat' implies the critic values the experimental approach and views the move toward convention negatively.
Question 4: A passage notes that a species of bird found only on an isolated island has no fear response to humans. What can most reasonably be inferred?
- The birds evolved without human predators and thus never developed fear of humans (Correct answer)
- The birds are friendly by nature and enjoy human contact
- Scientists have trained these birds to tolerate humans
- The birds lack the neurological capacity for fear
Correct answer: The birds evolved without human predators and thus never developed fear of humans
Evolutionary theory supports that fearlessness toward humans on an isolated island likely reflects absence of human predation pressure.
Question 5: A passage explains that a company's profits rose 20% after it reduced its workforce by 15%. Which inference is most supportable?
- Layoffs are always an effective strategy for increasing profits
- The workforce reduction likely contributed to lower operating costs and higher profits (Correct answer)
- The remaining employees became more productive after the layoffs
- The company's revenue increased by 20% due to the workforce reduction
Correct answer: The workforce reduction likely contributed to lower operating costs and higher profits
The temporal link between reduced headcount and profit growth most directly suggests cost savings contributed to the profit increase.
Question 6: A passage describes a trial where the defendant's alibi was corroborated by two witnesses, but both witnesses were close friends of the defendant. What inference is most appropriate?
- The alibi is false because the witnesses are biased
- The witnesses' relationship to the defendant may affect the credibility of their testimony (Correct answer)
- Close friends always lie to protect each other in court
- The defendant is guilty despite the alibi
Correct answer: The witnesses' relationship to the defendant may affect the credibility of their testimony
A potential conflict of interest exists, which is relevant to assessing credibility, but does not automatically make the testimony false.
Question 7: A passage states that a nation's GDP grew 5% last year but that median household income declined 2%. What can be inferred?
- The GDP growth figure is incorrect
- Economic growth was not evenly distributed across income levels (Correct answer)
- The nation is experiencing a recession
- Median household income is an unreliable economic indicator
Correct answer: Economic growth was not evenly distributed across income levels
Growth in aggregate GDP while median income falls indicates gains concentrated among higher earners rather than broad distribution.
LSAT Inference from Passages 4
A passage states that researchers found no statistically significant link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity in children across 23 studies.
What is the most defensible inference?