LSAT 60, Logical Reasoning II, Q12, LSATHacks

LR Question 12 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Many nurseries sell fruit trees that they label…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be True

FACTS: 

1. Miniature correctly labelled ➞ tree can suitably grow in pot or tub.
2. Some nurseries label Stark Sweet Melody nectarine trees as miniature, others don’t. 

ANALYSIS: About all we can say from these facts is that if the the nectarines have been correctly labelled, then those trees’ nectarines are able to grow in a pot or tub.

You could also conclude the contrapositive: tree can suitably grow in pot or tub ➞ miniature not correctly labelled

___________

1. We don’t know about “most fruit trees”. We only know about miniature fruit trees. And even there, we don’t know how many nurseries mislabel miniatures in general.
2. The stimulus said “can’t grow in a pot or tub ➞ can’t be labelled miniature.” That is grounds for saying a label is incorrect.
   The stimulus did not give us grounds for ever concluding a label is correct, as this answer does. To do that, you would need a sufficient condition leading to correct. (i.e. “If plant has factor X ➞ plant correctly labelled”).
3. We don’t know this. We only have one criterion for saying something is incorrectly labelled: if it can’t grow in a pot or tub.
   We don’t know whether or not nectarines can grow in a tub, so we can’t conclude anything about their labels.
4. We don’t know. We have no sufficient condition that says “if this happens, you must label a tree miniature”. All we know is when we can’t label a tree miniature: if it can’t grow in a pot or tub.
5. CORRECT. This combines the two facts from the stimulus. We know some nurseries have labelled nectarines miniature. And miniatures must be able to grow in a pot or tub.
   So, to be correctly labelled, we know the nectarines must be able to grow in a pot or tub.
   The “unless” makes the wording confusing, but this answer is basically saying: “If those nurseries have correctly labelled their plants miniature, then those plants can grow in a pot or tub.”

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

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