LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen and Support Questions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A marine biologist claims that coral reefs in the Pacific are recovering due to reduced water temperatures in recent years. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this claim? (A) Coral bleaching, which is caused by elevated water temperatures, has decreased significantly in the same reefs. (B) Pacific coral reefs were severely damaged by bleaching events in the previous decade. (C) Scientists disagree about the long-term prospects for coral reef recovery. (D) Some coral species are more temperature-sensitive than others.
- Coral bleaching, which is caused by elevated water temperatures, has decreased significantly in the same reefs. (Correct answer)
- Pacific coral reefs were severely damaged by bleaching events in the previous decade.
- Scientists disagree about the long-term prospects for coral reef recovery.
- Some coral species are more temperature-sensitive than others.
Correct answer: Coral bleaching, which is caused by elevated water temperatures, has decreased significantly in the same reefs.
Option A strengthens the argument by showing that the specific harm associated with high temperatures (bleaching) has decreased, consistent with the claimed temperature reduction causing recovery.
Question 2: A legal scholar argues that mandatory minimum sentencing laws have failed to deter drug crimes because drug offense rates have not declined in states with such laws. A critic responds that rates might have been even higher without the laws. Which of the following most strengthens the legal scholar's original argument against this criticism? (A) Mandatory minimum laws have been criticized by judges who believe they prevent individualized sentencing. (B) Comparable states without mandatory minimum laws have experienced equal or greater declines in drug offense rates over the same period. (C) The implementation of mandatory minimum laws has led to prison overcrowding in several states. (D) Drug enforcement budgets increased in states that adopted mandatory minimum laws.
- Mandatory minimum laws have been criticized by judges who believe they prevent individualized sentencing.
- Comparable states without mandatory minimum laws have experienced equal or greater declines in drug offense rates over the same period. (Correct answer)
- The implementation of mandatory minimum laws has led to prison overcrowding in several states.
- Drug enforcement budgets increased in states that adopted mandatory minimum laws.
Correct answer: Comparable states without mandatory minimum laws have experienced equal or greater declines in drug offense rates over the same period.
Option B defeats the critic's counterfactual by showing that states without the laws did just as well or better, undermining the claim that rates would have been higher without mandatory minimums.
Question 3: An architect proposes that natural lighting in office buildings increases worker productivity. Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for this proposal? (A) Workers often report preferring offices with windows over windowless offices. (B) A controlled study found that employees in naturally lit offices completed tasks 15% faster with fewer errors than those in artificially lit offices. (C) Natural lighting reduces a building's electricity costs over time. (D) Many modern office buildings are designed with open floor plans that allow light to penetrate deeper into the space.
- Workers often report preferring offices with windows over windowless offices.
- A controlled study found that employees in naturally lit offices completed tasks 15% faster with fewer errors than those in artificially lit offices. (Correct answer)
- Natural lighting reduces a building's electricity costs over time.
- Many modern office buildings are designed with open floor plans that allow light to penetrate deeper into the space.
Correct answer: A controlled study found that employees in naturally lit offices completed tasks 15% faster with fewer errors than those in artificially lit offices.
Option B provides direct empirical evidence from a controlled study measuring the actual productivity outcome the architect claims, making it the strongest support.
Question 4: A policy advocate argues that universal pre-kindergarten programs improve long-term educational outcomes for children. Which assumption, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) Pre-kindergarten programs are less expensive to operate than elementary school programs. (B) The cognitive and social skills developed in early childhood are foundational to later academic success. (C) Parents who enroll children in pre-K programs tend to be more involved in their children's education overall. (D) Pre-K programs are currently underfunded in most states.
- Pre-kindergarten programs are less expensive to operate than elementary school programs.
- The cognitive and social skills developed in early childhood are foundational to later academic success. (Correct answer)
- Parents who enroll children in pre-K programs tend to be more involved in their children's education overall.
- Pre-K programs are currently underfunded in most states.
Correct answer: The cognitive and social skills developed in early childhood are foundational to later academic success.
Option B establishes the key causal link that early skills from pre-K translate into later academic success, directly supporting the argument about long-term outcomes.
Question 5: A transportation engineer argues that adding bicycle lanes to a city's main corridors will reduce traffic congestion. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) Bicycle commuters report higher satisfaction with their commutes than car commuters. (B) In cities where bike lanes were added, a significant number of short-distance commuters switched from cars to bicycles, reducing vehicle traffic. (C) Installing bicycle lanes requires reducing the number of car lanes on affected roads. (D) Bicycling has significant health benefits for regular commuters.
- Bicycle commuters report higher satisfaction with their commutes than car commuters.
- In cities where bike lanes were added, a significant number of short-distance commuters switched from cars to bicycles, reducing vehicle traffic. (Correct answer)
- Installing bicycle lanes requires reducing the number of car lanes on affected roads.
- Bicycling has significant health benefits for regular commuters.
Correct answer: In cities where bike lanes were added, a significant number of short-distance commuters switched from cars to bicycles, reducing vehicle traffic.
Option B provides empirical evidence from comparable cities showing the specific mechanism (mode-switching) that leads to the predicted outcome (reduced vehicle traffic).
Question 6: A public health official argues that requiring restaurants to post calorie counts on menus will reduce obesity rates. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) Obesity rates have risen steadily over the past two decades despite various public health interventions. (B) Consumer research shows that most diners read nutritional information if it is displayed prominently, and many adjust their orders based on it. (C) Calorie posting requirements are already mandated by federal law for chain restaurants. (D) Some nutritionists argue that calorie counts alone do not reflect the nutritional quality of food.
- Obesity rates have risen steadily over the past two decades despite various public health interventions.
- Consumer research shows that most diners read nutritional information if it is displayed prominently, and many adjust their orders based on it. (Correct answer)
- Calorie posting requirements are already mandated by federal law for chain restaurants.
- Some nutritionists argue that calorie counts alone do not reflect the nutritional quality of food.
Correct answer: Consumer research shows that most diners read nutritional information if it is displayed prominently, and many adjust their orders based on it.
Option B strengthens the argument by establishing that consumers actually use calorie information to make lower-calorie choices, providing the behavioral link needed for the policy to reduce obesity.
Question 7: An investor argues that a particular tech startup is likely to succeed because its founders previously built and sold a successful company. Which of the following most strengthens this argument? (A) The startup is operating in a rapidly growing market segment. (B) Research shows that serial entrepreneurs have significantly higher success rates than first-time founders, largely because they apply lessons learned from previous ventures. (C) The startup has already secured contracts with several major clients. (D) The founders have an extensive professional network from their previous company.
- The startup is operating in a rapidly growing market segment.
- Research shows that serial entrepreneurs have significantly higher success rates than first-time founders, largely because they apply lessons learned from previous ventures. (Correct answer)
- The startup has already secured contracts with several major clients.
- The founders have an extensive professional network from their previous company.
Correct answer: Research shows that serial entrepreneurs have significantly higher success rates than first-time founders, largely because they apply lessons learned from previous ventures.
Option B directly strengthens the inference from prior success to future success by establishing a general pattern and the mechanism (applied experience) that drives it.
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen and Support Questions 3
A marine biologist claims that coral reefs in the Pacific are recovering due to reduced water temperatures in recent years.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this claim?
(A) Coral bleaching, which is caused by elevated water temperatures, has decreased significantly in the same reefs.
(B) Pacific coral reefs were severely damaged by bleaching events in the previous decade.
(C) Scientists disagree about the long-term prospects for coral reef recovery.
(D) Some coral species are more temperature-sensitive than others.