LSAT Test practice questions, page 20 of 30, with answer review and explanations.
Question 96
Political opinion and analysis outside the mainstream rarely are found on television talk shows, and it might be thought that this state of affairs is a product of the political agenda of the television stations themselves. In fact, television stations are driven by the same economic forces as sellers of more tangible goods. Because they must attempt to capture the largest possible share of the television audience for their shows, they air only those shows that will appeal to large numbers of people. As a result, political opinions and analyses aired on television talk shows are typically bland and innocuous. An assumption made in the explanation offered by the author of the passage is that
most television viewers cannot agree on which elements of a particular opinion or analysis are most disturbing
there are television viewers who might refuse to watch television talk shows that they knew would be controversial and disturbing
each television viewer holds some opinion that is outside the political mainstream, but those opinions are not the same for everyone
there are television shows on which economic forces have an even greater impact than they do on television talk shows
the television talk shows of different stations resemble one another in most respects
Question 97
Political opinion and analysis outside the mainstream rarely are found on television talk shows, and it might be thought that this state of affairs is a product of the political agenda of the television stations themselves. In fact, television stations are driven by the same economic forces as sellers of more tangible goods. Because they must attempt to capture the largest possible share of the television audience for their shows, they air only those shows that will appeal to large numbers of people. As a result, political opinions and analyses aired on television talk shows are typically bland and innocuous. The explanation offered by the author of the passage makes the assumption that
television station executives usually lack a political agenda of their own
bland and innocuous political opinions and analyses are generally in the mainstream
political analysts outside the mainstream are relatively indifferent to the effect their analyses have on television viewers
most television viewers are prepared to argue against allowing the expression of political opinions and analyses with which they disagree
the political opinions of television station executives are not often reflected in the television shows their stations produce
Question 98
Some judges complain about statutes that specify mandatory minimum sentences for criminal offenses. These legal restrictions, they complain, are too mechanical and prevent judges from deciding when a given individual can or cannot be rehabilitated. But that is precisely why mandatory minimum sentences are necessary. History amply demonstrates that when people are free to use their own judgment they invariably believe themselves to act wisely when in fact they are often arbitrary and irrational. There is no reason to think that judges are an exception to this rule. Which one of the following sentences most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?
People believe that they have good judgment but never do.
Mandatory minimum sentences are too mechanical and reduce judicial discretion,
Judges should be free to exercise their own judgment.
Judges are often arbitrary and irrational.
Mandatory minimum sentences are needed to help prevent judicial arbitrariness.
Question 99
Conservationist: The population of a certain wildflower is so small that the species is headed for extinction. However, this wildflower can cross-pollinate with a closely related domesticated daisy, producing viable seeds. Such cross-pollination could result in a significant population of wildflower-daisy hybrids. The daisy should therefore be introduced into the wildflower's range, since although the hybrid would differ markedly from the wildflower, hybridization is the only means of preventing total loss of the wildflower in its range. Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the conservationist's reasoning?
It is better to take measures to preserve a valued type of organism, even if those measures are drastic, than to accept a less valuable substitute for the organism.
It is better to preserve a type of organism that is in danger of extinction, even if surviving organisms of that type are not vigorous, than to allow something more vigorous to replace it.
It is better to change a type of organism that would otherwise be lost, even if the changes are radical, than to lose it entirely.
It is better to destroy one of two competing types of organisms, even if both are irreplaceable, than to allow both of them to be lost.
It is better to protect an endangered type of organism, even if doing so has some negative effects on another type of organism, than to do nothing at all.
Question 100
Conservationist: The population of a certain wildflower is so small that the species is headed for extinction. However, this wildflower can cross-pollinate with a closely related domesticated daisy, producing viable seeds. Such cross-pollination could result in a significant population of wildflower-daisy hybrids. The daisy should therefore be introduced into the wildflower's range, since although the hybrid would differ markedly from the wildflower, hybridization is the only means of preventing total loss of the wildflower in its range. Which one of the following is an assumption on which the conservationist's reasoning depends?
The wildflower currently reproduces only by forming seeds.
The domesticated daisy was bred from wild plants that once grew in the wildflower's range.
Increasing the population of the wildflower will also expand its range.
Wildflower-daisy hybrids will be able to reproduce.
The domesticated daisy will cross-pollinate with any daisy like plant.