LSAT Explanation PT 26, S2, Q16: Every new play that runs for

LSAT Question Stem

The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following arguments is most similar to that in the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage and identify its structure.

Passage Argument:

Every new play that runs for more than three months is either a commercial or a critical success (Premise 1). Last year, all new plays that were critical successes were also commercial successes (Premise 2). Therefore, every new play that ran for more than three months last year was a commercial success (Conclusion).

In simpler terms, let's say there are two types of ice cream: vanilla (commercial success) and chocolate (critical success). If an ice cream shop sells a scoop that lasts for more than three months, it's either vanilla or chocolate. Last year, all the chocolate scoops were also vanilla. So, every scoop that lasted for more than three months last year was vanilla.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Parallel question type, which means we need to find an answer choice that has a similar pattern of reasoning as the argument in the passage.

Now let's examine the answer choices:

a) This answer choice has a problem with the word "most," as it doesn't match the original argument. Additionally, the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises.

b) This answer choice uses an "and" compound conditional statement, which does not match the original argument's "either/or" structure. So, this is not a good match.

c) This answer choice closely matches the original argument's structure:

All students at the Freeman School of Cooking study either desserts or soups in their second year (Premise 1). This year, all Freeman students studying soups are also studying desserts (Premise 2). Therefore, every second-year student at Freeman is studying desserts this year (Conclusion).

This is the correct answer.

d) This answer choice has a premise mismatch with the necessary condition in the first premise, including a "not both" relationship, which the original argument doesn't have. So, this is not a good match.

e) This answer choice uses an "and" compound conditional statement instead of "or," which does not match the original argument's structure. Additionally, the elements in the necessary condition of the premise are not used to form their own conditional statement. So, this is not a good match.

In conclusion, the correct answer is C, as it has a similar pattern of reasoning to the argument in the passage.