LSAT 127 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q9

LR Question 9 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: In a recent study, each member of two groups of people…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen – Exception

CONCLUSION: At least in the case of remembering to make phone calls, memory does not suffer with age.

REASONING: The group of old people had fewer lapses in remembering to make phone calls than the group of college students.

ANALYSIS: This question involves samples. When you’re running an experiment, you should have all variables be the same except the one you are testing. So in this case, the two groups should be identical in size and in all other factors except their age.

Every answer choice which helps show the groups were equal will not be correct.

___________

1. This eliminates one potential area of bias, and so is not correct.
2. CORRECT. It wouldn’t make a difference who answered the phone; the study was measuring whether a call was made. Technically, it wouldn’t even be necessary to have anyone answer the phone.
3. This helps establish that the college students were truly a young group distinct from Group A in age.
4. This eliminates the possibility that lack of telephone access caused the college students to miss their calls.
5. This removes the possibility that the reminders were closer to the call time for the elderly group.

Recap: The question begins with “In a recent study, each member of two groups of people”. It is a Strengthen question. Learn how to master LSAT Strengthen questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.