LSAT Test

LSAT Test practice questions, page 10 of 30, with answer review and explanations.

Question 46

Read the following passage and answer the question below: Politician: The funding for the new nationwide health-awareness campaign should come from an increase in taxes on cigarettes. It is well established that cigarette smoking causes many serious health problems, and it is only reasonable that people whose unhealthful habits cause so many health problems should bear the costs of that campaign. Smoker: But it is equally well established that regularly eating high-fat, high-cholesterol foods causes as many serious health problems as does smoking, yet it would be manifestly unreasonable to force those who purchase such foods to bear the burden of financing this campaign. The smoker's response to the politician's argument

  1. offers a counterexample that calls into question the politician's reasoning
  2. presents an alternative solution to that proposed by the politician
  3. argues that the method proposed by the politician would be inadequate for its intended purpose
  4. questions the accuracy of the information cited by the politician in reaching a conclusion
  5. illustrates how the politician's proposal could aggravate the problem it is intended to solve

Question 47

There should be a greater use of gasohol. Gasohol is a mixture of alcohol and gasoline, and has a higher octane rating and fewer carbon monoxide emissions than straight gasoline. Burning gasohol adds no more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than plants remove by photosynthesis. Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument above EXCEPT:

  1. Cars run less well on gasoline than they do on gasohol.
  2. Since less gasoline is needed with the use of gasohol, an energy shortage is less likely.
  3. Cars burn on the average slightly more gasohol per kilometer than they do gasoline.
  4. Gasohol is cheaper to produce and hence costs less at the pump than gasoline.
  5. Burning gasoline adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than plants can remove.

Question 48

Cats spend much of their time sleeping; they seem to awaken only to stretch and yawn. Yet they have a strong, agile musculature that most animals would have to exercise strenuously to acquire. Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox described above?

  1. Cats have a greater physiological need for sleep than other animals.
  2. Many other animals also spend much of their time sleeping yet have a strong, agile musculature.
  3. Cats are able to sleep in apparently uncomfortable positions.
  4. Cats derive ample exercise from frequent stretching.
  5. Cats require strength and agility in order to be effective predators.

Question 49

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?

  1. The duties of the two newest employees are not less complex than any others in the company.
  2. 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.
  3. The two newest employees are not experienced at their occupations.
  4. Barnes was not hired at a higher-than-average starting salary.
  5. 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.

Question 50

These days, drug companies and health professionals alike are focusing their attention on cholesterol in the blood. The more cholesterol we have in our blood, the higher the risk that we shall die of a heart attack. The issue is pertinent since heart disease kills more North Americans every year than any other single cause. At least three factors—smoking, drinking, and exercise— can each influence levels of cholesterol in the blood. Which one of the following can be properly concluded from the passage?

  1. If a person has low blood cholesterol, then that person's risk of fatal heart disease is low.
  2. Smoking in moderation can entail as great a risk of fatal heart disease as does heavy smoking.
  3. A high-cholesterol diet is the principal cause of death in North America.
  4. The only way that smoking increases one's risk of fatal heart disease is by influencing the levels of cholesterol in the blood.
  5. The risk of fatal heart disease can be altered by certain changes in lifestyle.