Easy LSAT Point at Issue Questions Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

LSAT Point at Issue questions require you to identify the specific claim or principle upon which two speakers disagree. These questions are a staple of the Logical Reasoning section, testing your ability to track conflicting viewpoints within a short dialogue. To solve these effectively, you must find a statement that the first speaker would likely agree with and the second speaker would likely disagree with (or vice versa). If one speaker has no opinion on a particular topic mentioned in an answer choice, that choice is automatically incorrect, even if the other speaker feels strongly about it.

A highly effective technique for these questions is the "Agree/Disagree Test." For each answer choice, ask yourself: "Does Speaker A agree or disagree?" and "Does Speaker B agree or disagree?" The correct answer is the only one where you can definitively assign an "Agree" to one person and a "Disagree" to the other based solely on the text provided. This level of LSAT Prep focus ensures you don't fall for "distractor" choices that discuss topics only one person mentioned.

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), these questions evaluate your capacity to analyze arguments and pinpoint logical friction. Because these are "Easy" level questions, the disagreement will usually be explicit rather than deeply implied. You should focus on the conclusion of each speaker's argument, as the point of contention often lies in their conflicting final stances or the evidence used to support them.

Solved Examples

1. Example 1: The New Library
   • Speaker A: We should build a new library in the city center because the current one is too small for our growing population.
   • Speaker B: While the current library is small, the city budget is in a deficit. We cannot afford any new construction projects this year.
   • Step-by-Step Solution:
     1. Identify Speaker A's position: We should build a new library now.
     2. Identify Speaker B's position: We should not build it now due to budget issues.
     3. Evaluate the point of disagreement: Whether the city should proceed with building a new library immediately.
     4. Correct Answer: The city should begin construction on a new library this year. (A agrees; B disagrees).
2. Example 2: Organic Farming
   • Speaker A: Organic produce is better for consumers because it contains no synthetic pesticides.
   • Speaker B: It is true that organic produce lacks pesticides, but it is much more expensive. For the average family, the high cost outweighs the health benefits.
   • Step-by-Step Solution:
     1. Speaker A claims organic is better because of health (no pesticides).
     2. Speaker B agrees there are no pesticides but argues organic is not better overall because of cost.
     3. The disagreement is over the net value or "betterness" of organic produce for consumers.
     4. Correct Answer: Organic produce is, on balance, a better choice for consumers than non-organic produce.
3. Example 3: Remote Work
   • Speaker A: Employees are more productive when they work from home because they save time on commuting.
   • Speaker B: Actually, the lack of face-to-face interaction in a home setting leads to communication breakdowns that decrease overall output.
   • Step-by-Step Solution:
     1. Speaker A says remote work increases productivity.
     2. Speaker B says remote work decreases productivity.
     3. The point at issue is the effect of remote work on employee productivity.
     4. Correct Answer: Working from home has a positive effect on employee productivity.

Practice Questions

1. Sarah: The local park should be closed at 8:00 PM to reduce noise complaints from neighbors. Mark: If we close the park that early, teenagers will just hang out on the street corners, which is far more dangerous. We should keep it open until 10:00 PM.

2. Dr. Chen: High-protein diets are the most effective way to lose weight because they increase metabolic rate. Dr. Smith: While they may boost metabolism, these diets are unsustainable for most people in the long term, leading to weight regain.

3. Investor A: We should buy shares of TechCorp now because their new software release will drive the stock price up. Investor B: The market has already accounted for the software release. Buying now will not yield any significant profit.

4. Art Critic: Modern abstract paintings lack emotional depth because they do not depict recognizable human figures. Artist: Emotional depth comes from the use of color and texture, not from the literal representation of objects.

5. Politician X: Increasing the minimum wage will help the economy by giving workers more spending power. Politician Y: Increasing the minimum wage will force small businesses to lay off workers, which will ultimately hurt the economy.

6. Librarian: We should digitize all our historical archives to ensure they are preserved forever. Historian: Digital files can become corrupted or obsolete. Physical preservation is the only way to truly guarantee long-term access.

7. Coach: Our team needs to focus on defensive drills this week because we conceded too many goals in the last game. Captain: Our defense was fine; the problem was that our strikers missed several easy opportunities to score. We should practice shooting.

8. Parent A: Children should be allowed to use smartphones starting at age 10 so they can learn digital literacy early. Parent B: Digital literacy can be learned later. At age 10, the risks of social media distraction are too high to justify smartphone ownership.

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: The park should be closed at 8:00 PM. Sarah explicitly argues for an 8:00 PM closing time. Mark explicitly argues against it, suggesting a 10:00 PM closing time instead.
2. Answer: High-protein diets are the most effective way to lose weight. Dr. Chen claims they are the most effective. Dr. Smith disputes their effectiveness by citing the high likelihood of weight regain in the long term.
3. Answer: Buying shares of TechCorp now will result in a significant profit. Investor A believes the stock price will go up, implying profit. Investor B states that buying now will not yield a significant profit.
4. Answer: Recognizable human figures are necessary for a painting to have emotional depth. The Critic believes the lack of figures causes a lack of depth. The Artist argues that depth comes from other elements (color/texture), implying figures are not necessary.
5. Answer: Raising the minimum wage will have a positive effect on the economy. Politician X says it will help; Politician Y says it will hurt. They disagree on the net economic impact.
6. Answer: Digitization is the best method for ensuring the long-term preservation of archives. The Librarian advocates for digitization as the way to preserve them "forever," while the Historian argues digital files are unreliable and physical preservation is superior.
7. Answer: The team's primary weakness in the last game was the defense. The Coach attributes the loss to conceded goals (defense). The Captain attributes it to missed opportunities by strikers (offense), disagreeing that the defense was the issue.
8. Answer: The benefits of early digital literacy outweigh the risks of smartphone use for 10-year-olds. Parent A believes the literacy benefit justifies the age. Parent B believes the risks are too high to justify it, showing a disagreement over the balance of benefits vs. risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the "Agree/Disagree" test for LSAT Point at Issue questions?

The Agree/Disagree test is a process of elimination where you check every answer choice to see if one speaker would say "Yes" and the other would say "No." If you cannot find evidence for both speakers' opinions in the text, the answer choice is incorrect.

How do Point at Issue questions differ from Point of Agreement questions?

Point at Issue questions ask for a statement the speakers disagree on, whereas Point of Agreement questions ask for a shared belief. While less common, Point of Agreement questions require you to find a choice where both speakers would say "Yes."

Can the point at issue be a factual statement or must it be an opinion?

It can be either a factual claim or a normative opinion. As long as one person asserts the statement is true and the other asserts it is false (or that the opposite is true), it qualifies as a point at issue.

What should I do if an answer choice contains a "new" concept?

If an answer choice introduces a concept or term that neither speaker discussed, it is almost certainly wrong. You should stick strictly to the information and scope provided in the two stimuli. For more practice with logical scope, check out our reading analysis strategies.

Why are some Point at Issue questions considered "Easy"?

Easy questions typically feature a direct contradiction where the second speaker uses words like "No," "But," or "However" to specifically target the first speaker's conclusion. In harder versions, the disagreement might be buried in conflicting underlying assumptions.