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by timsportschuetz
Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:36 am
 
Forum: Section #4
Topic: Q10 - A recent study suggests
Replies: 3
Views: 1648
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Re: Q10 - A recent study suggests

Thanks for your quick response! I want to clarify that my mentioning of the method of "absent cause, absent effect" was not intended to mean that this is the only way to strengthen/weaken an argument. It is simply one of the valid methods that can be used based on formal logic within the l...
by timsportschuetz
Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:10 pm
 
Forum: Section #4
Topic: Q15 - Ruth: To become a politician
Replies: 5
Views: 3703
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Re: Q15 - Ruth: To become a politician

The flaw in this question is quite common on the LSAT and all test takers should be familiar with it! This fallacy is called the "straw man". It basically is a faulty argumentation technique that takes an opponent's argument and changes its' scope and/or wording in order to aid the respond...
by timsportschuetz
Sat Nov 09, 2013 4:55 pm
 
Forum: Section #4
Topic: Q19 - It is obvious that one
Replies: 10
Views: 4598
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Re: Q19 - It is obvious that one

Respecting answer choice A, it should be noted that since this is a sufficient assumption question, the correct answer choice has to be narrower than the argument's scope. Thus, answer A references "someone he or she has never met". However, the question is much more narrow in scope than a...
by timsportschuetz
Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:51 pm
 
Forum: Section #4
Topic: Q17 - Ecologist: Forest fires, the vast
Replies: 8
Views: 4524
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Re: Q17 - Ecologist: Forest fires, the vast

Can someone from the Manhattan team PLEASE explain this question to me!!! I eliminated every answer and eventually chose E since it is the only one mentioning the conclusion that humans should leave forest fires alone.
by timsportschuetz
Fri Nov 08, 2013 1:21 am
 
Forum: Section #3
Topic: Q22 - Paleontologists recently discovered teeth
Replies: 12
Views: 3784
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Re: Q22 - Paleontologists recently discovered teeth

Hi Tommy, Thank you for your prompt and always valued responses! Honestly, I am not a thick-headed person and always consider alternatives! However, on this one, I must say that my logic is still sound. The argument's conclusion is specifically qualified by stating "provided...." THEN this...
by timsportschuetz
Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:26 am
 
Forum: Section #3
Topic: Q20 - Investment banker: Democracies require
Replies: 8
Views: 4261
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Re: Q20 - Investment banker: Democracies require

Much simpler way to solve this question. Whenever you encounter sufficient and necessary assumption questions, be on the lookout for scope changes and/or new terms in the conclusion. This argument concludes something about people "bemoaning" something. Before I even analyse the logical str...
by timsportschuetz
Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:01 pm
 
Forum: Section #3
Topic: Q22 - Paleontologists recently discovered teeth
Replies: 12
Views: 3784
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Re: Q22 - Paleontologists recently discovered teeth

I chose E for this question. I stumbled on a question very similar to this: PT 36 Section 1 #18. Basically, the conclusion of this question is qualified by "Provided that the teeth are representative of their respective population...". Since we HAVE to prove the conclusion, the most import...
by timsportschuetz
Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:52 pm
 
Forum: Section #3
Topic: Q20 - On some hot days
Replies: 11
Views: 5580
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Re: Q20 - On some hot days

Honestly, if you are anything like myself, looking at the above examples and illustrations using numbers does absolutely NOTHING for my long-term understanding on the LSAT. Below are KEY inferences that are simply NOT POSSIBLE! Memorize these, and you will never miss a problem such as this one: 1) I...
by timsportschuetz
Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:33 pm
 
Forum: Section #3
Topic: Q18 - Tallulah: The columnist attributes
Replies: 1
Views: 1417
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Re: Q18 - Tallulah: The columnist attributes

I would like to add to the above explanation of answer choice B. In numerous PT's that use this language ("surely, ... failed to consider blablabla"), it can be reasonable and correctly inferred that this person disagrees with the reached conclusion! However, if you look closely at B, you ...
by timsportschuetz
Thu Nov 07, 2013 4:20 pm
 
Forum: Section #1
Topic: Q23 - Perception cannot be a relationship
Replies: 19
Views: 7158
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Re: Q23 - Perception cannot be a relationship

Whenever I see convoluted questions such as this one, I take a deep breath and find ONE definite item that the argument repeats in the same and/or negated form! Argument goes from "Perception cannot" to "Imperceptible" (translation: Perception to NOT perception). On my first pass...
by timsportschuetz
Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:52 pm
 
Forum: Section #4
Topic: Q9 - It can be safely concluded that
Replies: 5
Views: 2714
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Re: Q9 - It can be safely concluded that

I am a little bit confused... Above, you provide an example with specific numbers of trees. The way I am interpreting the premise, it follows that Seclee must have 'at least' as many trees as Martown. This would effectively mean that Seclee must always have an equal number or more trees than Martown...
by timsportschuetz
Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:48 am
 
Forum: Section #1
Topic: Q12 - Poor nutrition is at the root
Replies: 22
Views: 9563
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Re: Q12 - Poor nutrition is at the root

I think the above discussion is great! I would like to add a few things that I believe are also extremely important to solving questions such as these: 1) Scope: The argument uses two pieces of evidence (one observation and one experiment during which the inmates' diets were altered and the effects ...
by timsportschuetz
Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:01 pm
 
Forum: Section #4
Topic: Q10 - A recent study suggests
Replies: 3
Views: 1648
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Q10 - A recent study suggests

I have a major problem with one of the answer choices of this question! Answer choice E seems to be an extremely attractive answer and I actually chose this over D. Let me explain my reasoning: The conclusion states that Alzheimer's may be caused by a virus. The support for this conclusion is that a...
by timsportschuetz
Sun Nov 03, 2013 10:52 pm
 
Forum: Game #1 - Four Astronauts
Topic: Diagram
Replies: 7
Views: 3752
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Re: Diagram

Another method that works great with games of this particular type!

Image
by timsportschuetz
Sat Nov 02, 2013 10:32 pm
 
Forum: Section #1
Topic: Q24 - In every case of political
Replies: 6
Views: 3374
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Re: Q24 - In every case of political

Another important factor in eliminating wrong answer choices on these types of questions is matching the INDICATOR and QUANTITY words from the stimulus! The argument goes as follows: Every ... some unknown person or persons (IMPORTANT: Notice how the LSAT writers attempt to trap test takers by using...
by timsportschuetz
Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:53 pm
 
Forum: Section #1
Topic: Q1 - Some critiques argue that an
Replies: 5
Views: 3165
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Re: Q1 - Some critiques argue that an

I would like to add my two cents to the above posters remarks respecting answer choice [C]. Nobody seems to have picked up on the most important contributing factor that makes this answer choice bad. If you notice, the argument simply talks about music and stage directions and how the latter is &quo...
by timsportschuetz
Tue Oct 08, 2013 8:34 pm
 
Forum: Section #3
Topic: Q17 - Any food that is not
Replies: 10
Views: 5027
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Re: Q17 - Any food that is not

The key to solving this question is this: Conditional logic CANNOT be diagrammed if words such as "can, may, could, might" are present. If you encounter such words, NO conditional logic is present! Therefore, the only conditional statement in this question is: Sterilized & properly sea...
by timsportschuetz
Sun Oct 06, 2013 7:04 pm
 
Forum: Section #1
Topic: Q13 - Many economists claim that financial
Replies: 15
Views: 11628
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Re: Q13 - Many economists claim that financial

As the above poster stated, the key to solving this question is the term shift between the premise and conclusion. Financial rewards is being undermined. However, the argument shifts by using "High salary" as a premise to support his conclusion which undermines the economists' claim. (B) c...
by timsportschuetz
Sun Oct 06, 2013 6:37 pm
 
Forum: Section #1
Topic: Q11 - Most universities today offer students
Replies: 16
Views: 5405
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Re: Q11 - Most universities today offer students

I believe that the above explanations for E are great, however, I believe they may miss a CRUCIAL structural point of the argument. Although conditional reasoning is a valid attempt at solving this question, it is actually a causal argument. It states that the "culturally inclusive history text...
by timsportschuetz
Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:59 pm
 
Forum: Section #2
Topic: Q19 - At a gathering at which bankers
Replies: 18
Views: 8722
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Re: Q19 - At a gathering at which bankers

I have spent way too much time on this particular question! However, I am happy to say that I have a DEFINITIVE method of solving this particular conditional logic question: Premises: Bankers --> Athletes Lawyers --> [NOT] Bankers Step 1: Rearrange the premises in order to have the only simila...