Understanding Sample LSAT Questions
Before I even sign up for the LSAT test, I ordered up a book of example tests from Amazon, "The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests (TM)". I took the first 35 minute test of 25 questions, and spent the full time scratching my head over them. My overall impression was that they could have made the questions quite a bit clearer, but I suppose that's the point. Still, the jury is out as to whether they are trying to measure aptitude or simply trick people into giving the wrong answers. Maybe their concept of legal aptitude is to be untrickable:-)
I went 20 for 25 on my first go, and made a real effort to understand why I got those five wrong. I figure in the long run, this is more important than simply taking large numbers of sample tests (sorry fellow publishers). In one instance, where I got two questions in a row wrong that referred to the same reading sample, my problem was emotional. Whoever wrote the test was doing some nuclear power bashing, and it always drives me nuts when people play these activist games in supposedly neutral forums. I'd describe the author of this example as a "Test Troll." I've seen similar games played in foreign language courses, faux documentaries, and other inappropriate places. In any case, joke's on me because I got those questions wrong by trying to be righter than the activist.
A better example of a question I blew that I now understand (I think) was the fifth question from PrepTest 29, originally given in the October 1999 LSAT.
I went with (C), because I read the word "assumption" in the question as "fact." I suppose my natural inclination towards problem solving causes me to see the story problem in real world terms. I've been helping people solve computer problems for two decades, and the first step is always to try to figure out what the problem is, rather than what the person asking the question THINKS the problem is. However, in these LSAT questions, it's apparent they want us to carefully read the question and to take it literally. When they ask on which assumption Barnes' argument depends, they aren't asking whether or not that assumption is supported by the facts at hand. The answer they are looking for is (B), because our Barnes is assuming that the reason the employees are being paid more is because of their complex duties. I have to accept that in this context, they are correct, even though the real life reason for the higher pay rate of the new employees would more likely be related to their relations, or their physical appearance.
I went 20 for 25 on my first go, and made a real effort to understand why I got those five wrong. I figure in the long run, this is more important than simply taking large numbers of sample tests (sorry fellow publishers). In one instance, where I got two questions in a row wrong that referred to the same reading sample, my problem was emotional. Whoever wrote the test was doing some nuclear power bashing, and it always drives me nuts when people play these activist games in supposedly neutral forums. I'd describe the author of this example as a "Test Troll." I've seen similar games played in foreign language courses, faux documentaries, and other inappropriate places. In any case, joke's on me because I got those questions wrong by trying to be righter than the activist.
A better example of a question I blew that I now understand (I think) was the fifth question from PrepTest 29, originally given in the October 1999 LSAT.
5. Barnes: The two newest employees at this company have salaries that are too high for the simple tasks normally assigned to new employees and duties that are too complex for inexperienced workers. Hence, the salaries and the complexity of the duties of these two newest employees should be reduced..
Which one of the following is an assumption on which Barnes's argument depends?
(A) The duties of the two newest employees are not less complex than any others in the company.
(B) It is because of the complex duties assigned that the two newest employees are being paid more than is usually paid to newly hired employees.
(C) The two newest employees are not experienced at their occupations.
(D) Barnes was not hired at a higher-than-average starting salary.
(E) The salaries of the two newest employees are no higher than the salaries that other companies pay for workers with a similar level of experience
I went with (C), because I read the word "assumption" in the question as "fact." I suppose my natural inclination towards problem solving causes me to see the story problem in real world terms. I've been helping people solve computer problems for two decades, and the first step is always to try to figure out what the problem is, rather than what the person asking the question THINKS the problem is. However, in these LSAT questions, it's apparent they want us to carefully read the question and to take it literally. When they ask on which assumption Barnes' argument depends, they aren't asking whether or not that assumption is supported by the facts at hand. The answer they are looking for is (B), because our Barnes is assuming that the reason the employees are being paid more is because of their complex duties. I have to accept that in this context, they are correct, even though the real life reason for the higher pay rate of the new employees would more likely be related to their relations, or their physical appearance.
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