LSAT 154 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q1

LR Question 1 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Rhett: Otto gives me a ride to work every morning…

QUESTION TYPE: Point at Issue

ARGUMENTS: Rhett says he shouldn’t have to pay Otto for giving Rhett a ride to work. Otto already drives by Rhett’s house, so Otto doesn’t have extra fuel costs.

Barbara says that by that logic, Rhett would be entitled to Barbara’s spare heat if Rhett could somehow take it for free.

ANALYSIS: Fundamentally, Rhett and Barbara disagree over whether Rhett should pay Otto. Rhett says no, Barbara says yes. Barbara is using an analogy, but it’s clear she thinks Rhett should pay. She calls his argument “flawed logic”, and Rhett’s only claim is that he shouldn’t pay.

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1. This isn’t at issue. If Otto needed Rhett’s money to afford fuel, then Otto wouldn’t be able to drive to work without Rhett paying. And Rhett’s argument implies that Otto can afford to drive without payment.
2. CORRECT. Rhett says no. Barbara says yes, by analogy.
3. Rhett says no, and Barbara doesn’t disagree: she mentions her expenses not increasing.
4. Rhett doesn’t mention Barbara’s warm air, so this can’t possibly be the answer: we don’t know his opinion. Even he might think that taking her air would be ridiculous.
    
   (Also, to be even close to correct this should have mentioned “entitled to the air if it doesn’t increase Barbara’s costs)
5. Neither person expresses an opinion on this, but it’s likely they both disagree. Unless Rhett and Barbara are neighbours in a joined house, it’s crazy to imagine how Brett could take her heat.

Recap: The question begins with “Rhett: Otto gives me a ride to work every morning”. It is a Point at Issue question. Learn how to master LSAT Point at Issue questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.