LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen and Support Questions 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An economist argues that free trade agreements benefit developing countries more than developed ones. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) Developing countries typically have lower labor costs, making their exports more competitive when tariffs are removed. (B) Free trade agreements have been controversial in many developed countries due to concerns about job losses. (C) Not all developing countries have benefited equally from past free trade agreements. (D) Developed countries already have access to most global markets even without formal agreements.
- Developing countries typically have lower labor costs, making their exports more competitive when tariffs are removed. (Correct answer)
- Free trade agreements have been controversial in many developed countries due to concerns about job losses.
- Not all developing countries have benefited equally from past free trade agreements.
- Developed countries already have access to most global markets even without formal agreements.
Correct answer: Developing countries typically have lower labor costs, making their exports more competitive when tariffs are removed.
Option A identifies a structural advantage developing countries have when trade barriers are removed, directly supporting the claim that they benefit more.
Question 2: A scientist argues that a newly discovered species of deep-sea fish has evolved to withstand extreme pressure because its protein structures are fundamentally different from those of shallow-water fish. Which of the following most strengthens this argument? (A) Deep-sea environments are characterized by temperatures near freezing and complete absence of sunlight. (B) Laboratory experiments show that the fish's proteins maintain their shape and function at pressures that cause proteins from shallow-water fish to denature and lose function. (C) The new species shares several anatomical features with known shallow-water species, suggesting a common ancestor. (D) Deep-sea fish have been studied for several decades, but new species are still being discovered regularly.
- Deep-sea environments are characterized by temperatures near freezing and complete absence of sunlight.
- Laboratory experiments show that the fish's proteins maintain their shape and function at pressures that cause proteins from shallow-water fish to denature and lose function. (Correct answer)
- The new species shares several anatomical features with known shallow-water fish, suggesting a common ancestor.
- Deep-sea fish have been studied for several decades, but new species are still being discovered regularly.
Correct answer: Laboratory experiments show that the fish's proteins maintain their shape and function at pressures that cause proteins from shallow-water fish to denature and lose function.
Option B directly confirms the argued mechanism—that the different protein structures actually function under pressure where others fail—providing the strongest empirical support.
Question 3: A city manager argues that implementing a congestion pricing scheme (charging drivers a fee to enter the downtown core during peak hours) will improve air quality. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) Air quality in the downtown core is currently below federal standards for particulate matter. (B) A significant portion of downtown air pollution comes from vehicle exhaust, and congestion pricing in other cities has reduced vehicle traffic by 20% or more during peak hours. (C) Congestion pricing revenues can be used to fund public transit improvements. (D) Some commuters will not have access to alternative transportation even if fees are imposed.
- Air quality in the downtown core is currently below federal standards for particulate matter.
- A significant portion of downtown air pollution comes from vehicle exhaust, and congestion pricing in other cities has reduced vehicle traffic by 20% or more during peak hours. (Correct answer)
- Congestion pricing revenues can be used to fund public transit improvements.
- Some commuters will not have access to alternative transportation even if fees are imposed.
Correct answer: A significant portion of downtown air pollution comes from vehicle exhaust, and congestion pricing in other cities has reduced vehicle traffic by 20% or more during peak hours.
Option B establishes both that vehicles are the source of the air quality problem and that congestion pricing demonstrably reduces vehicle traffic, completing the causal chain to improved air quality.
Question 4: A defense attorney argues that her client's confession should be suppressed because it was obtained after the client had been awake for 36 hours, rendering it involuntary. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the attorney's argument? (A) The client initially denied involvement in the crime before eventually confessing. (B) Psychological research demonstrates that sleep deprivation of 24 hours or more significantly impairs judgment and increases susceptibility to suggestion, making individuals more likely to make false confessions. (C) The interrogation lasted approximately six hours before the client confessed. (D) The interrogating officers followed standard department protocols during questioning.
- The client initially denied involvement in the crime before eventually confessing.
- Psychological research demonstrates that sleep deprivation of 24 hours or more significantly impairs judgment and increases susceptibility to suggestion, making individuals more likely to make false confessions. (Correct answer)
- The interrogation lasted approximately six hours before the client confessed.
- The interrogating officers followed standard department protocols during questioning.
Correct answer: Psychological research demonstrates that sleep deprivation of 24 hours or more significantly impairs judgment and increases susceptibility to suggestion, making individuals more likely to make false confessions.
Option B provides scientific evidence establishing a causal mechanism linking sleep deprivation (the condition) to impaired voluntariness (the legal standard for suppression).
Question 5: A financial analyst argues that a company's stock is undervalued relative to its peers despite having lower current earnings. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the analyst's position? (A) The company's stock price has declined by 15% over the past year. (B) The company holds patents on technology that independent analysts project will generate revenues exceeding its current market capitalization within three years. (C) Several institutional investors have recently reduced their holdings of the company's stock. (D) The company's current price-to-earnings ratio is lower than the industry average.
- The company's stock price has declined by 15% over the past year.
- The company holds patents on technology that independent analysts project will generate revenues exceeding its current market capitalization within three years. (Correct answer)
- Several institutional investors have recently reduced their holdings of the company's stock.
- The company's current price-to-earnings ratio is lower than the industry average.
Correct answer: The company holds patents on technology that independent analysts project will generate revenues exceeding its current market capitalization within three years.
Option B identifies a concrete future asset (patents with projected revenues) that justifies a higher current valuation than current earnings alone suggest, directly supporting the undervaluation argument.
Question 6: A sociologist argues that social isolation, rather than poverty itself, is the primary driver of poor health outcomes in low-income urban communities. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) Low-income communities often lack access to quality healthcare facilities and nutritious food options. (B) Low-income communities with strong social networks and community organizations show health outcomes comparable to wealthier communities, while isolated low-income communities show the worst health outcomes. (C) Social isolation is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern across all income levels. (D) Community health programs in low-income areas are often underfunded relative to their potential impact.
- Low-income communities often lack access to quality healthcare facilities and nutritious food options.
- Low-income communities with strong social networks and community organizations show health outcomes comparable to wealthier communities, while isolated low-income communities show the worst health outcomes. (Correct answer)
- Social isolation is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern across all income levels.
- Community health programs in low-income areas are often underfunded relative to their potential impact.
Correct answer: Low-income communities with strong social networks and community organizations show health outcomes comparable to wealthier communities, while isolated low-income communities show the worst health outcomes.
Option B directly supports the primacy of social isolation over poverty by showing health varies with social connectivity within the same income level, isolating social isolation as the key variable.
Question 7: A constitutional law scholar argues that a recently enacted state law banning a particular form of political advertising violates the First Amendment. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument? (A) The law was passed along strict partisan lines, with the majority party voting in favor. (B) The Supreme Court has consistently held that political speech receives the highest level of First Amendment protection and that content-based restrictions on such speech are presumptively unconstitutional. (C) Similar laws in other states have been challenged in federal court with mixed results. (D) Free speech advocacy groups have publicly criticized the law as overreaching.
- The law was passed along strict partisan lines, with the majority party voting in favor.
- The Supreme Court has consistently held that political speech receives the highest level of First Amendment protection and that content-based restrictions on such speech are presumptively unconstitutional. (Correct answer)
- Similar laws in other states have been challenged in federal court with mixed results.
- Free speech advocacy groups have publicly criticized the law as overreaching.
Correct answer: The Supreme Court has consistently held that political speech receives the highest level of First Amendment protection and that content-based restrictions on such speech are presumptively unconstitutional.
Option B directly strengthens the constitutional argument by citing the applicable Supreme Court doctrine—strict scrutiny for content-based restrictions on political speech—that would govern and likely invalidate the law.
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen and Support Questions 5
An economist argues that free trade agreements benefit developing countries more than developed ones.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens this argument?
(A) Developing countries typically have lower labor costs, making their exports more competitive when tariffs are removed.
(B) Free trade agreements have been controversial in many developed countries due to concerns about job losses.
(C) Not all developing countries have benefited equally from past free trade agreements.
(D) Developed countries already have access to most global markets even without formal agreements.