LSAT 140 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q12

LR Question 12 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Consumer advocate: Even if one can of fruit or…

QUESTION TYPE: Identify The Conclusion

CONCLUSION: The heavier can doesn’t necessarily have more food.

REASONING: The heavier can could simply have more water.

ANALYSIS: The conclusion is the first sentence: the heavier can may not have more food. There are at least three ways to identify the conclusion here:

1. It’s the first sentence. If there are no conclusion indicators, the first sentence is usually the conclusion.
2. “Not necessarily”. Any statement of probability, or showing that something might not be the case, is often the conclusion.
3. What receives support? The second and third sentences support the idea that the heavier can may not contain more food.

___________

1. CORRECT. This is the first sentence, which receives support from the other two sentences.
2. This is evidence that supports the idea that a can might be heavier because of water and not because of food.
3. This is evidence that suggests that some cans may be heavier simply because of water weight.
4. Technically, the argument doesn’t even say this is true. The final sentence merely says it’s possible to include more water. The argument doesn’t say companies actually do include more water. Maybe all companies are scrupulous.
5. The real conclusion is that a heavier can may not have more food. Having more water merely supports the idea that a can has less food.

Recap: The question begins with “Consumer advocate: Even if one can of”. It is a Identify The Conclusion question. To practice more Identify The Conclusion questions, have a look at the LSAT Questions by Type page.