LSAT 157 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Buyer: As a buyer for a large chain of department stores…

QUESTION TYPE: Parallel Reasoning

CONCLUSION: I will not buy that dress.

REASONING: I only buy dresses that are fashionable and not too expensive. This dress is fashionable, but it is too expensive.

ANALYSIS: As with most Parallel Reasoning questions, you want to break this down into its abstract form. Here, this looks like so:

X is selected only if Y and Z are both true.

Y is true, but Z is false.

Therefore, X will not be selected.

Y and Z are both conditions that must be true for X to be selected. The reasoning here follows from one of those conditions being false, and the correct answer will do the same. It’s not enough to have the same structure – the same conclusion must follow for the same reason.

___________

1. This one looks good at first glance. However, remember that an “if” is not the same as an “only if”. Because of this difference, A is incorrect.
2. CORRECT. This answer matches the above structure. There are two conditions that must be true for selection, and one is failed.
3. This answer has a similar flaw to A – it is missing the “only if”. Additionally, it has the wrong conclusion – the sidewalk passes because both conditions are met.
4. This answer matches the general structure, but the conclusion is different. As a result, we can’t say it matches the pattern of reasoning.
5. This one also matches our structure, but is a very different argument. It’s the equivalent of “the dress is fashionable, so I will buy it as long as it’s not too expensive”.

Recap: The question begins with “Buyer: As a buyer for a large chain of department stores”. It is a Parallel Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Parallel questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.