Medium LSAT Main Conclusion Questions Practice Questions

Medium LSAT Main Conclusion Questions Practice Questions

Identifying the primary claim is a fundamental skill for anyone beginning their LSAT Prep journey. While simple arguments might place the conclusion at the very end, medium-difficulty questions often bury the main point in the middle of a passage or disguise it behind complex transition words. These questions require you to distinguish between the ultimate point the author is trying to prove and the supporting evidence or intermediate conclusions used to get there.

Concept Explanation

A Main Conclusion on the LSAT is the central claim of an argument that receives support from all other premises but does not itself provide support for any other statement in the stimulus. To identify it, you must look for the "why" behind the text—every other sentence in the passage exists to convince the reader that this specific claim is true. Unlike main idea questions in reading comprehension, logical reasoning conclusions are specific, singular propositions. A common strategy involves the "Therefore Test": if you have two statements, A and B, and "A, therefore B" makes sense but "B, therefore A" does not, then B is likely the conclusion. You should also watch for indicator words like "thus," "consequently," and "so," but remain wary of intermediate conclusions, which are supported by premises but then act as support for the final, main conclusion.

Solved Examples

1. Example 1: The Buried Conclusion
   Stimulus: Some critics argue that the new city hall is an eyesore. However, this view is misguided. The building's glass facade reflects the surrounding historic park, effectively integrating the modern structure into its environment.
   Step-by-Step Solution:
   1. Identify the opposing view: "The new city hall is an eyesore."
   2. Identify the author's reaction: "This view is misguided."
   3. Identify the evidence: The glass facade reflects the park, helping integration.
   4. Determine the relationship: The evidence about the glass facade supports the idea that the critics are wrong.
   5. Conclusion: The view that the new city hall is an eyesore is misguided.
2. Example 2: The Intermediate Conclusion Trap
   Stimulus: Because the local aquifer is depleting rapidly, the city must implement water rationing. If rationing is implemented, residents will likely reduce their non-essential water usage. Therefore, the city's long-term water security will be improved.
   Step-by-Step Solution:
   1. Identify the first inference: Aquifer depletion leads to the need for rationing.
   2. Identify the second inference: Rationing leads to reduced usage.
   3. Identify the final result: Long-term water security will be improved.
   4. Test the hierarchy: The need for rationing is a step (intermediate conclusion) toward the final goal of security.
   5. Conclusion: The city's long-term water security will be improved.
3. Example 3: The Recommendation
   Stimulus: Regular exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function in older adults. Since cognitive decline is a major concern for the aging population, doctors should recommend daily physical activity to all patients over the age of 65.
   Step-by-Step Solution:
   1. Identify the facts: Exercise improves cognition; decline is a concern.
   2. Identify the prescriptive statement: Doctors should recommend activity.
   3. Evaluate the flow: The facts about health benefits are used to justify the recommendation.
   4. Conclusion: Doctors should recommend daily physical activity to all patients over the age of 65.

Practice Questions

1. The recent increase in corporate tax rates has led many companies to relocate their headquarters abroad. Since these companies provide thousands of local jobs, the tax hike will ultimately result in a higher unemployment rate for the region. Thus, the government should reconsider its current tax policy.

2. Many people believe that eating organic produce is significantly healthier than eating conventionally grown produce. But this is not necessarily the case. Studies show that the vitamin content in both types of produce is virtually identical, and the levels of pesticide residue on conventional produce are well within safety limits established by the Food and Drug Administration.

3. High-speed rail systems require massive initial investments and years of construction. However, they significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to air travel and decrease highway congestion. Given the urgent need to address climate change, the benefits of high-speed rail clearly outweigh the costs.

4. Literary critics often claim that the author's intent is irrelevant to the interpretation of a poem. This position is problematic, however, because understanding the historical context of the author often clarifies ambiguous metaphors. Therefore, a complete analysis of a literary work must take the author’s intentions into account.

5. The price of gold has risen by 20% over the last year. Historically, such sharp increases in gold prices are followed by a period of market volatility. Investors should therefore diversify their portfolios into more stable assets to protect against potential losses in the coming months.

6. It is a mistake to think that digital textbooks will completely replace physical books in schools. While digital versions are cheaper to distribute, many students report higher levels of focus and retention when reading from paper. Furthermore, many rural schools lack the high-speed internet required to support a fully digital curriculum.

7. The city’s new bike lane initiative was intended to reduce traffic. Instead, it has caused more bottlenecks by narrowing the main thoroughfares. Because the initiative has failed to achieve its primary goal and has inconvenienced drivers, the city council should vote to remove the lanes immediately.

8. Some biologists argue that the introduction of non-native species always leads to an ecological disaster. But this claim is an exaggeration. In several documented cases, non-native species have filled ecological niches left vacant by extinct native species, actually increasing the overall biodiversity of the region.

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: The government should reconsider its current tax policy.
   Explanation: The passage lists the effects of the tax (relocation and unemployment) as premises to support the final recommendation that the policy should be reconsidered.
2. Answer: It is not necessarily the case that eating organic produce is significantly healthier than eating conventionally grown produce.
   Explanation: The author introduces a common belief and then uses scientific evidence (vitamin content and pesticide levels) to argue against that belief.
3. Answer: The benefits of high-speed rail clearly outweigh the costs.
   Explanation: The author acknowledges the costs (investment/time) but argues that the environmental and traffic benefits are more significant, leading to the final evaluative judgment.
4. Answer: A complete analysis of a literary work must take the author’s intentions into account.
   Explanation: The author refutes the critics' position by providing a reason (clarifying metaphors) and then states the final requirement for a "complete analysis."
5. Answer: Investors should diversify their portfolios into more stable assets.
   Explanation: The rise in gold prices and the history of volatility are premises that lead to the concluding advice for investors to diversify.
6. Answer: It is a mistake to think that digital textbooks will completely replace physical books in schools.
   Explanation: The author presents two reasons (student retention and internet access) to support the claim that the total replacement of physical books will not happen.
7. Answer: The city council should vote to remove the lanes immediately.
   Explanation: The failure to reduce traffic and the inconvenience to drivers are premises used to justify the specific action recommended at the end of the stimulus.
8. Answer: The claim that the introduction of non-native species always leads to an ecological disaster is an exaggeration.
   Explanation: The author uses the example of niche-filling and increased biodiversity to counter the specific "always" claim made by some biologists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the main conclusion be the first sentence of the stimulus?

Yes, the LSAT frequently places the main conclusion in the first sentence to see if students will mindlessly look for it at the end. This is common in arguments that begin with a strong claim followed by several supporting reasons.

What is the difference between a premise and a conclusion?

A premise is a statement of fact or evidence offered to support a claim, whereas a conclusion is the claim that the premises are intended to prove. In the context of argument strategy, premises are the "why" and the conclusion is the "what."

How can I distinguish an intermediate conclusion from the main conclusion?

Ask yourself if the statement in question is being used to support something else in the passage. If a statement is supported by premises but also supports a further claim, it is intermediate; the main conclusion supports nothing else.

Do all LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have a conclusion?

No, some question types, such as "Must Be True" or "Resolve the Paradox," may consist entirely of a set of facts without a formal argument or conclusion. However, for "Main Conclusion" questions, a conclusion will always be present.

Are conclusion indicator words like "thus" always reliable?

Indicator words are helpful clues, but they are not 100% reliable because they can sometimes introduce intermediate conclusions. You should always use the retrieval challenge method to verify the logical hierarchy of the argument.

Why does the LSAT use complex sentence structures in these questions?

The LSAT uses complexity to test your ability to track logical relationships through dense prose. By separating premises from conclusions with dependent clauses, the test ensures you are reading for logic rather than just scanning for keywords.