LSAT 137 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Guideline: It is improper for public officials to…

QUESTION TYPE: Principle

RULE: Public officials shouldn’t even appear to use their influence to benefit from public contracts.

APPLICATION: The mayor tried to get the city to award a contract to one of the mayor’s relatives.

ANALYSIS: The application seems correct. The mayor helped his family – that appears corrupt.

But the rule is pretty specify: officials are prohibited from appearing to help themselves. You have to take things very literally on the LSAT. The mayor’s relative is not the mayor.

You need to prove that the mayor appeared to help himself.

The first three answers are all the same. They help show that the rule is a good rule, but they don’t help us show that the mayor was benefitting himself.

___________

1. This helps justify the guideline, but it doesn’t show that the mayor violated the rule.
2. Same as A.
3. Same as A and B.
4. Excessive risk? That’s not mentioned. The rule says the mayor shouldn’t appear to benefit himself. It doesn’t matter whether he places city interests at risk.
5. CORRECT. This states what seems obvious. If you help your family, you’re effectively helping yourself, which is banned by the rule.