LSAT 88, Logical Reasoning II, Q17, LSATHacks

LR Question 17 Explanation, by LSATHacks

QUESTION TEXT: Advice columnist: Parents should not encourage their children…

QUESTION TYPE: Principle

CONCLUSION: Parents shouldn’t encourage children to value outdoing others.

REASONING: This sort of motivation causes resentment and unhappiness since it’s an achievement that’s difficult to satisfy.

ANALYSIS: This sounds like an if-then statement. We can prephrase this as: “if something causes resentment/unhappiness ? don’t encourage children to do it.”

___________

1. The correct principle should say what parent’s shouldn’t do, and “the things they do well” is out of scope since it isn’t mentioned in the stimulus.
2. Again, the principle should say what parents shouldn’t do. Also, having “at least some desires that are easy to satisfy” is never mentioned in the stimulus so it’s out of scope.
3. CORRECT. The trait here is “plac[ing] great value on outdoing others”, which the stimulus says, fosters resentment and makes one less happy.
4. Again, we want a principle that says what parents shouldn’t do. “Significant achievements” also makes this wrong since it’s not mentioned in the stimulus.
5. This doesn’t talk at all about what parents shouldn’t encourage. Eliminate.

Recap: The question begins with “Advice columnist: Parents should not encourage their children”. It is a Principle question. Learn how to master LSAT Principle questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.

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