Evaluate [300-page free LSAT course]

Free LSAT Course > Logical Reasoning > Modify Arguments > Evaluate Questions

CHALLENGE: Explain Away an Argument Lapse

In these questions, you’ll find a stimulus exhibiting faulty reasoning, and you have to explain how it could be true. Essentially, you are supplying a premise to strengthen the overall argument.

Which of the following, if true, explains the behavior of the lion mothers as described above?
Each of the following could explain the statistical claim cited above, EXCEPT:

How to solve

Read the argument and find the apparent discrepancy, lapse, or contradiction.
State the apparent discrepancy, lapse, or contradiction in your own words.
Use POE (the Process of Elimination). The best answer will explain how both sides of the paradox, discrepancy, or contradiction can be true. Eliminate answers that are out of scope.
Common trap choices:
- Information that denies (doesn’t explain) the phenomenon that the question wants you to explain.
- Statements that explain something but are not specifically in reference to material in the stimulus.

Intro (0:01) | Ex.1 (2:55) | Ex.2 (6:44) | Trap Choices (13:25)
LSAT Lab offers six classes a week. Register for a free demo class

Next LSAT: August 14/15

{"first_video":"zsbkoUcGO9Q","testData":[{"videoId":"zsbkoUcGO9Q","videoLoopStart":"1.5","videoLoopEnd":"2.5","VideoEnd":"437","videoCustomization":"","correct":"A","explanation":"0:00 - This is a Most Helpful<\/i> question. It`s similar to a Strengthen or Weaken<\/i> question. | 0:25 - The wrong choices are topics that don`t affect the argument. | 1:00 - Read the stimulus. | 1:54 - Anders is arguing that researchers should model thinking machines on the structure of the brain. | 2:00 - Yang disagrees and thinks researchers should instead focus on the brain`s function. | 2:45 - When evaluating the choices, turn each choice into a question<\/b>. If answering the question with a yes or no would either strengthen or weaken Yang`s argument, that choice is the correct answer. | 3:13 - Turn (A) into a question: <q>Did studies of the physical structure of birds provide information crucial to the development of workable aircraft?<\/q> The answer yes would weaken Yang`s argument, and the answer no would strengthen Yang`s argument. | 4:00 - So (A) is the correct answer. | 4:25 - Turn (B) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. | 5:00 - Turn (C) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. | 5:30 - Turn (D) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. | 5:50 - Turn (E) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. | 6:15 - Recap","explanationBreaks":"0:00 - This is a Most Helpful<\/i> question. It`s similar to a Strengthen or Weaken<\/i> question. 0:25 - The wrong choices are topics that don`t affect the argument. 1:00 - Read the stimulus. 1:54 - Anders is arguing that researchers should model thinking machines on the structure of the brain. 2:00 - Yang disagrees and thinks researchers should instead focus on the brain`s function. 2:45 - When evaluating the choices, turn each choice into a question<\/b>. If answering the question with a yes or no would either strengthen or weaken Yang`s argument, that choice is the correct answer. 3:13 - Turn (A) into a question: <q>Did studies of the physical structure of birds provide information crucial to the development of workable aircraft?<\/q> The answer yes would weaken Yang`s argument, and the answer no would strengthen Yang`s argument. 4:00 - So (A) is the correct answer. 4:25 - Turn (B) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. 5:00 - Turn (C) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. 5:30 - Turn (D) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. 5:50 - Turn (E) into a question. The answer wouldn`t affect Yang`s argument. 6:15 - Recap","clockPosition":"TR","imageThumb":"https:\/\/www.lsat-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/yt_thumbs\/41_zsbkoUcGO9Q.jpg","categoryId":"12","id":"41"},{"videoId":"ouf0gOsc2vs","videoLoopStart":"1.0","videoLoopEnd":"221.0","VideoEnd":"221","videoCustomization":"","correct":"A","explanation":"0:00 - Read the stimulus and question. | 0:35 - (A) appears useful, since the stimulus doesn`t specify if the traditional techniques used by the researchers were actually in use at the time Tiwanaku was built. | 1:20 - So (A) is a possible answer. Now check if it`s possible to rule out the other choices. | 1:25 - (B) is irrelevant, so eliminate it. | 2:00 - (C) is also irrelevant, so eliminate it. | 2:20 - (D) is also irrelevant, so eliminate it. | 2:40 - (E) is also irrelevant, so the correct answer is (A).","explanationBreaks":"0:00 - Read the stimulus and question. 0:35 - (A) appears useful, since the stimulus doesn`t specify if the traditional techniques used by the researchers were actually in use at the time Tiwanaku was built. 1:20 - So (A) is a possible answer. Now check if it`s possible to rule out the other choices. 1:25 - (B) is irrelevant, so eliminate it. 2:00 - (C) is also irrelevant, so eliminate it. 2:20 - (D) is also irrelevant, so eliminate it. 2:40 - (E) is also irrelevant, so the correct answer is (A).","clockPosition":"TR","imageThumb":"https:\/\/www.lsat-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/yt_thumbs\/106_ouf0gOsc2vs.jpg","categoryId":"12","id":"106"}]}