LSAT 102 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Taken together, some 2,000 stocks recommended on a…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken – Exception

CONCLUSION: We shouldn’t listen to these “expert” stock analysts.

REASONING: The 2,000 stocks they picked performed worse than the market.

ANALYSIS: There are always a million and one ways to weaken an argument of this type. The best thing to do is understand exactly what the argument says, and keep an open mind when considering the answer choices. Make sure you can support each answer you eliminate using the passage.

___________

1. This very slightly weakens the argument. The stocks had at least one profitable year. Maybe the recommendations were very long term. Perhaps this year is the start of future profits.
2. This shows that all stock portfolios underperformed the market: everyone was wrong. But these experts were less wrong, so maybe they’re worth listening to.
3. This shows that the comparison was badly done. It compared apples to oranges, so we don’t really know if the analysts underperformed the market.
4. CORRECT. This shows that the analysis has been double and triple checked. So the conclusion seems accurate: the analysts are duds.
5. This shows that the experts may not have given their best advice on the TV show. So we shouldn’t listen to that advice.
    
   But if they’re managing your personal portfolio, they may be worth listening to.

Recap: The question begins with “Taken together, some 2,000 stocks recommended on a”. It is a Weaken question. Learn how to master LSAT Weaken questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.