Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
Question 1. What is the main point of an argument that states, “Since all mammals breathe air, and
whales are mammals, whales must breathe air”?
A) Mammals do not breathe air
B) Whales are not mammals
C) Whales breathe air
D) Whales live in water
Answer: C
Explanation: The central claim being argued is that whales breathe air, supported by the premises about
mammals and whales.
Question 2. In an argument, which of the following describes the function of a premise?
A) It summarizes the author’s viewpoint
B) It provides evidence to support the conclusion
C) It introduces a counterargument
D) It restates the conclusion differently
Answer: B
Explanation: A premise is a statement that provides support and evidence for the argument's
conclusion.
Question 3. Which of the following is an example of reasoning by analogy?
A) Claiming two situations are similar and thus should have similar outcomes
B) Presenting statistical evidence
C) Making a causal claim
D) Questioning the credibility of a source
Answer: A
, Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
Explanation: Reasoning by analogy compares two cases, arguing that because they are similar in some
ways, they should be treated similarly.
Question 4. If an argument concludes “Consumption of sugar must cause hyperactivity because children
who eat sugar seem energetic,” what flaw is present?
A) Confusing correlation with causation
B) Circular reasoning
C) Using an unrepresentative sample
D) Attacking the person
Answer: A
Explanation: The argument mistakes correlation (children who eat sugar are energetic) for causation
(sugar causes hyperactivity).
Question 5. What is the role of a subsidiary conclusion in an argument?
A) It is the main point
B) It supports the main conclusion and is supported by other premises
C) It provides background information
D) It introduces a counterexample
Answer: B
Explanation: A subsidiary conclusion is both supported by premises and used to support the main
conclusion.
Question 6. Which of the following must be true if the premises, “All cats have whiskers. Fluffy is a cat,”
are true?
A) Fluffy has whiskers
B) Fluffy is not a cat
C) Some cats do not have whiskers
, Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
D) All animals have whiskers
Answer: A
Explanation: If all cats have whiskers and Fluffy is a cat, it must be true that Fluffy has whiskers.
Question 7. What is a necessary assumption in an argument?
A) An assumption that, if false, destroys the argument
B) An assumption that, if true, proves the conclusion
C) An assumption that is stated in the argument
D) An assumption that is irrelevant to the argument
Answer: A
Explanation: A necessary assumption must be true for the argument’s logic to hold; if it is false, the
argument fails.
Question 8. Which of the following indicates a flaw of using an unrepresentative sample?
A) Drawing a general conclusion from an atypical group
B) Citing a reputable source
C) Using a valid analogy
D) Addressing all possible counterarguments
Answer: A
Explanation: An unrepresentative sample undermines an argument by basing generalizations on atypical
cases.
Question 9. In parallel reasoning questions, what should you look for?
A) The same subject matter
B) The same logical structure
C) Identical wording
, Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
D) Opposing viewpoints
Answer: B
Explanation: Parallel reasoning questions require finding an argument with the same logical pattern, not
necessarily the same topic.
Question 10. What kind of statement is background information in an argument?
A) Direct evidence for the conclusion
B) Information that sets context but does not support or contradict the conclusion
C) The main conclusion
D) An explicit counterargument
Answer: B
Explanation: Background information gives context but does not serve as evidence or counterevidence.
Question 11. Which of the following weakens an argument?
A) Introducing new evidence that contradicts the premises
B) Restating the premises
C) Providing additional support for the conclusion
D) Omitting a necessary assumption
Answer: A
Explanation: To weaken an argument, one introduces information that undermines its premises or logic.
Question 12. If a question asks you to “resolve the paradox,” what is required?
A) Provide a logical reason the two seemingly contradictory facts can both be true
B) Prove that one fact is false
C) Identify the main point
Question 1. What is the main point of an argument that states, “Since all mammals breathe air, and
whales are mammals, whales must breathe air”?
A) Mammals do not breathe air
B) Whales are not mammals
C) Whales breathe air
D) Whales live in water
Answer: C
Explanation: The central claim being argued is that whales breathe air, supported by the premises about
mammals and whales.
Question 2. In an argument, which of the following describes the function of a premise?
A) It summarizes the author’s viewpoint
B) It provides evidence to support the conclusion
C) It introduces a counterargument
D) It restates the conclusion differently
Answer: B
Explanation: A premise is a statement that provides support and evidence for the argument's
conclusion.
Question 3. Which of the following is an example of reasoning by analogy?
A) Claiming two situations are similar and thus should have similar outcomes
B) Presenting statistical evidence
C) Making a causal claim
D) Questioning the credibility of a source
Answer: A
, Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
Explanation: Reasoning by analogy compares two cases, arguing that because they are similar in some
ways, they should be treated similarly.
Question 4. If an argument concludes “Consumption of sugar must cause hyperactivity because children
who eat sugar seem energetic,” what flaw is present?
A) Confusing correlation with causation
B) Circular reasoning
C) Using an unrepresentative sample
D) Attacking the person
Answer: A
Explanation: The argument mistakes correlation (children who eat sugar are energetic) for causation
(sugar causes hyperactivity).
Question 5. What is the role of a subsidiary conclusion in an argument?
A) It is the main point
B) It supports the main conclusion and is supported by other premises
C) It provides background information
D) It introduces a counterexample
Answer: B
Explanation: A subsidiary conclusion is both supported by premises and used to support the main
conclusion.
Question 6. Which of the following must be true if the premises, “All cats have whiskers. Fluffy is a cat,”
are true?
A) Fluffy has whiskers
B) Fluffy is not a cat
C) Some cats do not have whiskers
, Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
D) All animals have whiskers
Answer: A
Explanation: If all cats have whiskers and Fluffy is a cat, it must be true that Fluffy has whiskers.
Question 7. What is a necessary assumption in an argument?
A) An assumption that, if false, destroys the argument
B) An assumption that, if true, proves the conclusion
C) An assumption that is stated in the argument
D) An assumption that is irrelevant to the argument
Answer: A
Explanation: A necessary assumption must be true for the argument’s logic to hold; if it is false, the
argument fails.
Question 8. Which of the following indicates a flaw of using an unrepresentative sample?
A) Drawing a general conclusion from an atypical group
B) Citing a reputable source
C) Using a valid analogy
D) Addressing all possible counterarguments
Answer: A
Explanation: An unrepresentative sample undermines an argument by basing generalizations on atypical
cases.
Question 9. In parallel reasoning questions, what should you look for?
A) The same subject matter
B) The same logical structure
C) Identical wording
, Law School Admission Test LSAT Practice Exam
D) Opposing viewpoints
Answer: B
Explanation: Parallel reasoning questions require finding an argument with the same logical pattern, not
necessarily the same topic.
Question 10. What kind of statement is background information in an argument?
A) Direct evidence for the conclusion
B) Information that sets context but does not support or contradict the conclusion
C) The main conclusion
D) An explicit counterargument
Answer: B
Explanation: Background information gives context but does not serve as evidence or counterevidence.
Question 11. Which of the following weakens an argument?
A) Introducing new evidence that contradicts the premises
B) Restating the premises
C) Providing additional support for the conclusion
D) Omitting a necessary assumption
Answer: A
Explanation: To weaken an argument, one introduces information that undermines its premises or logic.
Question 12. If a question asks you to “resolve the paradox,” what is required?
A) Provide a logical reason the two seemingly contradictory facts can both be true
B) Prove that one fact is false
C) Identify the main point
