LSAT 153 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q25

LR Question 25 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Katelin says that we will be hit by a major snowstorm…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Parallel Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Katelin probably thinks the antique car show will be cancelled.

REASONING: Katelin thinks there will be a major snowstorm, and the car show will be cancelled if there is a major snowstorm.

ANALYSIS: In the abstract, this argument is saying:

1. [Person] thinks X is true.
2. If X is true, Y is true.
3. Therefore, [Person] probably believes Y is true.

The flaw here is that we don’t know if Katelin is even aware of the car show, let alone that it will be cancelled if there is a major snowstorm. We’ll look for an answer that follows the structure above and shares the same flaw.

___________

1. This answer messes with the structure too much. There isn’t really a conditional statement! Jorge says Y will happen, based on X. X is unlikely to change, so Jorge probably thinks Y will happen. See the difference?
2. CORRECT. This answer matches our structure perfectly. Bo makes a statement and the author infers what Bo might believe based on the potentially incorrect assumption that Bo has the same knowledge as the author.
3. This answer follows a different structure and doesn’t make the same flaw. Wanda says X. Most people who say X believe Y. Therefore, Wanda probably believes Y.
4. This answer doesn’t match our structure. The conditional statement is important: the author has to say that if X is true, Y is true. That doesn’t appear here.
5. This answer matches our basic structure, but not our flaw! This is actually an incorrect reversal – we are told that things which improve circulation (sufficient condition) also improve your alertness (necessary condition). The author mistakenly extrapolates this to mean that garlic (which improves alertness) also improves circulation.

Recap: The question begins with “Katelin says that we will be hit by a major snowstorm”. It is a Flawed Parallel Reasoning question. Learn how to master LSAT Flawed Parallel questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.