LSAT Hacks

The Explanations That Should Have Come With The LSAT

  • Start Here
    • About
  • LSAT Explanations
  • LSATHacks Pro
  • Course
  • Mastery seminars
  • Tutoring
  • Books
  • Login
LSAT Explanations » LSAT Preptest 74 » Logical Reasoning 1 » Question 21

LSAT 74, Logical Reasoning I, Q21

LSAT 74 Explanations

LR Question 21 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: In a study, pairs of trained dogs were placed side…

QUESTION TYPE: Argument Evaluation

CONCLUSION: Dogs don’t like being treated unfairly.

REASONING: Pairs of dogs were given a command. When both dogs obeyed, only one dog was rewarded. Eventually, the dogs that didn’t receive treats stopped obeying.

ANALYSIS: This question is talking about trained dogs. You surely know that dogs are often rewarded with treats or affection for obeying commands.

This argument has given a possible explanation for the dogs lack of obedience. Perhaps they did indeed feel they were being treated unfairly. But the argument didn’t rule out a likely alternative explanation: The dogs expected treats for obedience, and stopped obeyed when there were no treats (regardless of what happened to the other dog).

___________

  1. This is irrelevant. The stimulus is only talking about situations where both dogs obey, initially.
  2. CORRECT. This addresses an alternative explanation. It’s quite possibly that the dogs stopped obeying simply because they weren’t being rewarded. If both dogs went unrewarded and still stopped obeying, then that rules out fairness as an explanation. Both dogs received an equal, fair amount of treats: zero.
  3. The reverse of this answer would be interesting. If some dogs who didn’t receive treats were then given treats in later trials, that might affect the experiment. But this answer is only talking about dogs who receive treats and then later do not receive treats.
  4. “Any cases” is quite useless. You need to take vague answers at their weakest. If one dog became more inclined to obey, what does that prove?
  5. Who cares? The number of repetitions required doesn’t change the underlying theory. It’s not as if five repetitions would indicate unfairness was the cause, while ten repetitions would indicate that lack of reward was the cause.

Previous Question
Table Of Contents
Next Question




Free Logical Reasoning lesson

Get a free sample of the Logical Reasoning Mastery Seminar. Learn tips for solving LR questions

Hi, I'm Graeme Blake

I run LSAT Hacks, and got a 177 on the LSAT. The single best thing I've ever made is the set of LSAT Mastery seminars. They show you how to think like a 170+ scorer when doing questions. Get them here: Mastery Seminars

I guarantee you'll like them, or you get your money back within 7 days. There's no risk. Check the reviews, people have said they improved within a few days.
---------
Photos and Updates: You can follow me on Instagram here

For updates, sign up for my email list. I update whenever I have new posts.

Comments

  1. Riss says

    June 7, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    It seems to me that choice C as it is presented could still affect the experiment. If a dog is accustomed to receiving treats, then is placed in the group where it receives no treats, couldn’t obedience decrease simply because they are no longer getting treats (as opposed to obedience declining due to being treated unfairly)?

    Reply
    • TutorRosalie (LSATHacks) says

      June 10, 2021 at 10:50 am

      C is out of scope. Participating in previous trials might explain initial obedience, but it still wouldn’t explain why the obedience declined over time. This is a self-contained study and the conclusion addresses “fairness”, so the correct answer choice needs to touch on these two.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Free LSAT Email Course

My best LSAT tips, straight to your inbox


New! LSATHacks Pro: Get every course on LSATHacks for $49.99/month

LSATHacks Pro

LSAT Course, LSAT Mastery seminars, and 3,000 extra explanations. All for $49.99/month, satisfaction guaranteed, no minimum commitment. Sign up here: https://lsathacks.com/lsathacks-pro/

Testimonials

Your emails are tremendously helpful. - Matt

Thanks for the tips! They were very helpful, and even make you feel like you studied a bit. Great insight and would love more! - Haj

Dear Graeme: MUCH MORE PLEASE!! Your explanations are very clear, and you give equal importance to why answers are WRONG, as well as why THE ANSWER is right!! Very well done. Thank you for all your efforts - Tom

These have been awesome. More please!!! - Caillie

The course was immensely helpful and has eased my nerves a lot. - Lovlean

© Copyright 2022 LSAT Hacks. All Rights Reserved. | FAQ/Legal

Disclaimer: Use of this site requires official LSAT preptests; the explanations are of no use without the preptests. If you do not have the accompanying preptests, you can find them here: LSAT preptests
LSAT is copyright of LSAC. LSAC does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services and has not reviewed this site.
×
Item Added to your Cart!
There are no products
Continue Shopping