LSAT 106 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q4

LR Question 4 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Whittaker: There can be no such thing as the number of…

QUESTION TYPE: Method of Reasoning

ARGUMENTS: Whittaker makes a pedantic argument that you never have a second year if you drop out before then, so you can’t drop out before your second year.

Hudson points out that by that logic, if you die before earning your first million then you must have eventually earned a million (false, of course.)

ANALYSIS: Whittaker ignores the fact that he is critiquing a figure of speech. People who say that don’t mean it literally. They instead mean that people drop out before entering what would have been their second year.

Hudson is right. If you can’t die before earning your first million, then presumably you’ll eventually earn one million. And if you can’t drop out before entering your second year then you’ll presumably have a second year.

Hudson is using absurd reasoning to disprove Whittaker.

___________

1. CORRECT. Hudson’s argument is the same as Whittaker’s, but it’s obviously wrong. Hudson uses absurd reasoning to make his point.
2. For Hudson to cite a specific example he would have to talk about a medical student.
3. Hudson’s critique is much stronger: he doesn’t think Whittaker’s situation makes any sense.
4. Hudson doesn’t say anything about how Whittaker acts.
5. Whittaker doesn’t mention a specific case of a medical student and neither does Hudson.

Recap: The question begins with “Whittaker: There can be no such thing as the number of”. It is a Method of Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Method of Reasoning questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.