LSAT 82, Logic Game 4, Question 22, LSATHacks

This question restricts George to one presentation: jitsuaku. So, we must place G there, and also restrict them from going in the other two places.

I also placed R in J: rule 1 says that if G is in J, R is too.

This question asks what could be true. To figure that out, you should make a couple of scenarios to figure out how to place the other variables.

Basically, someone has to fill M, and only R and W are left. Anyone going in M also has to go in S, and R and W can’t be in S together. So, only one of R/W can go in M and S. We can make two scenarios based on that:

(You might wonder: why can’t G be in M? It’s because the local rule on this question said G is only in J)

Whenever you make major progress in your diagrams, you should check if that has already answered the question. No sense doing more work than necessary, this is just a could be true question. And in fact we have answered the question. C is CORRECT. In the second scenario, R can present on all three subjects.

Though, you might fairly wonder if the scenario works, because we didn’t complete it. So, what else do we need to add? Only W, and we can legally add them on J:

As for why the other answers are wrong:

• A is wrong because G always presents on J on this question. Rule 1 says that if G presents on J, so does R.
• B, D and E are all wrong for the same reason: they leave nobody to go on Machiavellianism. All three answers place either R or W on S, but not M. But, somebody has to go on M. And, it won’t be G, because this question says G only presents on J. So, we’re only left with the other of R or W to go on M. And, anyone in M goes in S (rule 3).

  So all three answers have the effect of placing both R and W in S, violating rule 2. For example, in B, R is in S. And since R isn’t in M, then W must be. This is because G can’t go there on this question, as G is only in J. So W is also on S (rule 3) and therefore R and W are together on S, violating rule 2.

  Every one of B, D and E has this same basic setup. Draw them out and see. You always end up with R and W together on S.

This shows why making scenarios is valuable. You can really waste a lot of time on B, C and E if you don’t have a framework that lets you predict the answer up front.

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