LSAT 149 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Lopez: Our university is not committed to liberal arts…

QUESTION TYPE: Method of Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Warrington says Lopez’s reasoning is wrong. [This is implied. Warrington didn’t directly draw a conclusion]

REASONING: We still teach the classics in other departments, even if we don’t have a formal department per se.

ANALYSIS: Warrington suggests that Lopez focussed on the wrong thing. The important thing is teaching the classics. Lopez focussed only on the presence of a classics department.

___________

1. Actually, Warrington disagreed with Lopez. The word “although” shows disagreement.
2. Warrington didn’t mention tradition, and seems to agree with Lopez that it is important to teach classics.
3. This was very tempting. But, Warrington didn’t offer any direct challenge. To do that, they would have had to directly argue that the university does value liberal arts. They didn’t mention this.
    
   [It’s indeed possible Lopez is right. Warrington has only shown that the university hasn’t completely cut the study of classics. But leaving a few surviving classes isn’t the same as being devoted to classics]
4. Rubbish. Warrington was objecting to the reasoning in Lopez’s argument. This answer says that Warrington was supporting Lopez’s arguing by arguing against its opponents.
    
   E.g. Lopez: makes argument with flaw #1
    
   Opponent: prepares to attack flaw #1
    
   Warrington: intercedes to support Lopez, shows flaw #1 isn’t actually a flaw
5. CORRECT. The consideration is: you can still study classics without having a classics department. This doesn’t destroy Lopez’s argument, but it certainly raises a point that needs to be addressed.

Recap: The question begins with “Lopez: Our university is not committed to liberal arts”. It is a Method of Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Method of Reasoning questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.