LSAT 144 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q19

LR Question 19 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Juarez thinks that the sales proposal will be rejected…

QUESTION TYPE: Parallel Reasoning

CONCLUSION: The proposal will probably be rejected.

REASONING: Juarez says:

Not rewritten ➞ Rejected

Two facts:

1. Juarez is very reliable.
2. The proposal won’t be rewritten.

ANALYSIS: This is a good argument, with a unique structure. Juarez makes a conditional statement.

The argument says that we can trust Juarez, and it says that the sufficient condition of the conditional statement is true. The conclusion is probabilistic, not certain.

So look for an answer that matches this structure. This is the key to answering long parallel reasoning questions quickly. You can skip over answers that don’t seem to match. I’ll point out the structural differences that let you quickly eliminate answers.

___________

1. Here, the science journal (i.e. Juarez) provides a fact, not a conditional statement. Wrong! Next answer, please.
2. Same as A. The science journal provides a fact, not a conditional. Also, we don’t have the same probabilistic conclusion. This argument concludes that the medication is definitely safe.

3. CORRECT. This mirrors the structure exactly.
   Science Journal says: Data accurate ➞ Drug Safe

   Two facts:

   1. Journal usually right.
   2. Data accurate.
4. Here the journal made two claims. Juarez made one. Wrong! Next answer, please.
5. Here the journal states a fact. Juarez stated a conditional. Wrong!