LSAT 150 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q18

LR Question 18 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Some people prefer to avoid facing unpleasant truths…

QUESTION TYPE: Complete the Argument

CONCLUSION: Then group 2 will be annoyed that group 1 isn’t telling them the truth.

REASONING:

1. Group 1: Truth haters
2. Group 2: Truth lovers
3. If group 1 treats group 2 the way group 1 wants to be treated…. (i.e. the golden rule)

ANALYSIS: This question is basically testing your ability to see what words like “the latter” refer to. When you read a question like this, I think it’s helpful to have shorthand for the groups. Then when you get to words like “the former” you can see it’s “group 1: truth haters” and that “the latter” refers to people who want to hear the truth.

So in this scenario, group 1 is going to do what they would prefer to have happen to them: withhold the truth. But, this will annoy group 2, since group 2 would prefer to be told the truth.

___________

1. The passage says nothing about either group’s willingness to speak. It only talks about their willingness to listen. Speaking and listening are very different.
2. CORRECT. This means: they (group 1, the truth haters) will sometimes not tell the truth, which will annoy the second group (the ones who like the truth).
3. This doesn’t follow. This answer means “The latter group will not follow the golden rule.”
4. The stimulus is only talking about how people like hearing the truth (or not hearing it). It doesn’t talk about people withholding the truth in response to having it withheld.
5. Nope. The groups have different preferences. So if group 1 withholds the truth from group 2, group 2 will hate it.

Recap: The question begins with “Some people prefer to avoid facing unpleasant truths”. It is a Complete the Argument question. Learn more about LSAT Complete the Argument questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.