LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen and Support Questions 3

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.

Accepted Answer

Coral bleaching, which is caused by elevated water temperatures, has decreased significantly in the same reefs.

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

Comparable states without mandatory minimum laws have experienced equal or greater declines in drug offense rates over the same period.

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

A controlled study found that employees in naturally lit offices completed tasks 15% faster with fewer errors than those in artificially lit offices.

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive and social skills developed in early childhood are foundational to later academic success.

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

In cities where bike lanes were added, a significant number of short-distance commuters switched from cars to bicycles, reducing vehicle traffic.

Answer

Option B provides empirical evidence from comparable cities showing the specific mechanism (mode-switching) that leads to the predicted outcome (reduced vehicle traffic).

LSAT - Law School Admission Test Practice Test

LSAT - Law School Admission Test Practice Test

LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen and Support Questions 3