LSAT English Sentence Structure
For the first time today, I finished one of these LSAT sample tests with a few minutes to spare. Rather than going back and checking some of the answers I'd noted as questionable, I just corrected the thing and ended up going 21 for 26. Pretty stupid of me, especially since I got 4 out of the last 7 wrong. In at least two instances, the English sentence structure was so screwy that it distracted me badly. In the following instance I still got the right answer, but get a load of this sentence from question 20 of practice test 2, section 2, of "The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests (TM)".
In English, the sentence would read something like:
20. Some critics of continued public funding maintain it can only be justified if public benefit is indicated.
However, more annoying is when answers offer essentially identical outcomes, even if worded differently. Question 21 on the same test was:
(I'm only showing the two answers that make sense, and while I guessed right, I'm still annoyed)
While the sentence structure is different, the first phrased as a double negative, the second as a double positive,they express the identical logical construct. At least that's the way I see it, but the LSAT people say that (A) is more correct than (E). In the meantime, I'm coming to believe that scoring well on the LSAT is largely a matter of adopting the mindset of the test preparers, rather than getting the right answer, which doesn't bode well.
20. Scientist: Some critics of public funding for this research project have maintained that only if it can be indicated how the public will benefit from the project is continued public funding for it justified.
In English, the sentence would read something like:
20. Some critics of continued public funding maintain it can only be justified if public benefit is indicated.
However, more annoying is when answers offer essentially identical outcomes, even if worded differently. Question 21 on the same test was:
21. The new agricultural bill will almost surely fail to pass. The leaders of all major parties have stated that they oppose it.
Which of the following, if true, adds the most support for the prediction that the agricultural bill will fail to pass?
(I'm only showing the two answers that make sense, and while I guessed right, I'm still annoyed)
(A) Most bills that have not been supported by even one leader of a major party have not been passed into law.
(E) Most bills that have been passed into law were supported by at least one leader of a major party.
While the sentence structure is different, the first phrased as a double negative, the second as a double positive,they express the identical logical construct. At least that's the way I see it, but the LSAT people say that (A) is more correct than (E). In the meantime, I'm coming to believe that scoring well on the LSAT is largely a matter of adopting the mindset of the test preparers, rather than getting the right answer, which doesn't bode well.
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