LSAT 11 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q12

LR Question 12 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: In the Centerville Botanical Gardens, all tulip trees …

QUESTION TYPE: Must Be True

FACTS:

1. All tulip trees are older than any maple.
2. A majority (but not all) sycamores are older than any maple.
3. All maples are older than any dogwood.

ANALYSIS: This is very similar to the Logic Games section that was removed. This creates a hierarchy of ages. We know:

• Tulips > maples > dogwoods
• Sycamores are mixed: some are older than maples, some are not.

Since the hierarchy of the three in the first point is pretty straightforward, the answer will probably address sycamores. We know tulips are older than all maples, and some sycamores (minority) are not older than maples. So those minority sycamores are younger than all tulips.

___________

1. Impossible. Dogwoods are younger than maples which are younger than tulips. So dogwoods can’t be as old as any tulips.
2. We don’t know this for sure. The youngest sycamores could still be older than dogwoods.
3. Also not necessarily true. Some sycamores are younger than maples, but they could still be older than all dogwoods.
4. This would require sycamores > tulips, which contradicts the fact that all tulips > all maples, and only some sycamores are even older than maples.
5. CORRECT. Some sycamores are not older than maples, and all tulips are older than all maples, so some sycamores must be younger than the youngest tulip.