LSAT 89, Logical Reasoning II, Q11, LSATHacks

LR Question 11 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: When using a manufactured pattern to make clothing, a tailor…

QUESTION TYPE: Sufficient Assumption

CONCLUSION: A professional tailor never blindly follows a pattern, but always adjusts the pattern to fit the wearer exactly.

REASONING: When using a manufactured pattern to make clothing, tailors alter the pattern to accommodate future distortion. The tailor will alter the pattern to fit the wearer exactly, unless the clothing is to be worn by a person who precisely matches the pattern size.

ANALYSIS: We’re told that tailors alter the pattern to fit the wearer exactly, unless the wearer exactly matches the pattern. Then, in the conclusion, the author says that professional tailors always adjust the pattern. For both of these to be true, it must mean that professional tailors never make clothes for someone who fits the pattern exactly. If they did, then the conclusion couldn’t be drawn.

___________

1. This doesn’t allow us to conclude that professional tailors always adjust the pattern. It just gives a reason for why alteration is necessary.
2. This doesn’t lead to the conclusion that all professional tailors always adjust. It just tells us that some adjusting tailors are professional tailors.
3. The conclusion isn’t about who are the best tailors, or who can alter patterns most perfectly.
4. CORRECT. See above – this allows us to draw our conclusion. Professional tailors only make clothing for people who don’t match the pattern, so they always adjust the pattern.
5. This might be true, but it doesn’t mean every professional tailor always adjusts the pattern.

Recap: The question begins with “When using a manufactured pattern to make clothing, a tailor”. It is a Sufficient Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Sufficient questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

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