LSAT 132 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q3

LR Question 3 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Medications with an unpleasant taste are generally…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: M will probably be capsules.

REASONING: M couldn’t be a tablet or a softgel. Medicines with an unpleasant taste are usually tablets, softgels, or capsules.

ANALYSIS: The argument uses process of elimination. For medicines with an unpleasant taste, there are usually three possibilities. The argument eliminates two of them.

So far, so good, but there’s a big flaw….The argument didn’t say that M has an unpleasant taste! Process of elimination only works if we know M is within the right category!

___________

1. This weakens the argument. It shows there’s another possibility for M, apart from capsules.
2. CORRECT. This tells us M is within the right category. Therefore the argument’s process of elimination is relevant.
3. Who cares? The argument already eliminated the possibility of soft-gels. This answer just jumbles together two terms from the stimulus in an attempt to confuse you.
4. We don’t care about “most” medications. We care about M. And the stimulus says that M’s company doesn’t have soft-gel technology.
5. The stimulus didn’t say whether medication M has an unpleasant taste, and the argument wasn’t about how to make M taste more pleasant.

Recap: The question begins with “Medications with an unpleasant taste”. It is a Strengthen question. To practice more Strengthen questions, have a look at the LSAT Questions by Type page.