LSAT Explanation PT 23, S3, Q20: Helen: It was wrong of my

LSAT Question Stem

The main conclusion drawn in Helen's argument is that 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Main Conclusion question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. Helen is discussing her brother Mark's action of lying to their mother about the reason he missed her birthday party. Helen believes that Mark's lie was morally wrong. The structure of the argument can be broken down as follows:

Premise 1: Saying something that is false is always morally wrong.

Premise 2: Mark lied about being in a traffic accident as the reason for missing the party.

Conclusion: It was wrong of Mark to tell his mother that he had missed her birthday party as a result of having been in a traffic accident.

Now, let's discuss the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Main Conclusion question, which means we need to identify the main conclusion of the argument.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) Mark did not tell his mother the truth.

This answer choice is incorrect because it is a premise, not the main conclusion. It's a fact that Mark lied, but it's not the main point Helen is making.

b) The real reason Mark missed his mother's birthday party was that he had forgotten all about it.

This answer choice is also incorrect because it is a premise, not the main conclusion. It provides context for Mark's lie, but it's not the main point Helen is making.

c) It is wrong to attempt to avoid blame for one's failure to do something by claiming that one was prevented from doing that thing by events outside one's control.

This answer choice is incorrect because it is a general principle, not the main conclusion. It may be related to the argument, but it doesn't specifically address Mark's lie and why it was wrong.

d) It was wrong of Mark to tell his mother that he had missed her birthday party as a result of having been in a traffic accident.

This is the correct answer choice. It captures the main conclusion of Helen's argument, which is that Mark's lie was morally wrong.

e) It is always wrong not to tell the truth.

This answer choice is incorrect because it is too broad and too strong for the argument. While it is a premise in Helen's argument, it is not the main conclusion. The main conclusion specifically addresses Mark's lie, not the general concept of truth-telling.

In summary, the correct answer is D because it captures the main conclusion of Helen's argument, which is that Mark's lie about the reason for missing the birthday party was morally wrong.