Main points and conclusions
About 2-3 questions per logical reasoning section will ask about the "conclusion" or "main point" of the argument. Sometimes the question will leave the end of the paragraph blank and ask which sentence completes it.
Message us for private LSAT lessons at $50 per hour.
1. Manager: The company wants our office to save more money each year. At the rate we print things in this office it would be cheaper for us to buy a newer office printer that uses cheaper ink than to continue using the current one. However, all major equipment purchases must be made with the permission of corporate management, and a new printer would be such a purchase.
The manager’s argument is structured to lead to which one of the following conclusions?
(A) Therefore, we can save money more money each year through the purchase of a printer, but only if corporate management approves an equipment purchase.
(B) Thus, if we save any more money each year, it will have been because of the purchase of a new printer.
(C) Hence, we cannot save more money each year without approval of an equipment purchase from corporate management.
(D) So if corporate management does not approve the purchase of a new printer, it is because they have decided it is not worthwhile to do so.
(E) It follows that the best way to save money each year is to purchase a new office printer.
2. While Bianca told me that we she all the necessary documents to the accountant, Mr. Torres, clearly he did not receive them. If Mr. Torres would’ve received all the necessary documents, he would be finished by now and would have reported back to us. But we have not heard from Torres.
The main point of the passage is that
(A) Mr. Torres did not receive the necessary documents.
(B) If Mr. Torres had received the necessary documents, he would’ve finished and reported back by now.
(C) Mr. Torres should have already received all the necessary documents.
(D) Bianca believed that Mr. Torres had received all the necessary documents.
(E) Mr. Torres did not report back.
3. Camper: There is a risk that local black bears will come eat our food at night, and this risk can only be alleviated if we hang the food very high so the bears cannot reach it. However, if we hang the food very high, we will be leaving it outside, and it will get wet and soggy because it is raining tonight. But we cannot run the risk of black bears eating our food tonight, because if they do, we will not have anything to eat for the next four days.
Which one of the following best expresses the camper’s main point?
(A) The food should be hung very high tonight so the bears will not eat it.
(B) It is always better to have soggy food than no food at all.
(C) Black bears eat food that is not hung out of their reach.
(D) The food will get soggy if it is hung high tonight because it will be outside.
(E) Running the risk of black bears eating all the food at night is not an option
4. Weightlifters who want to maximize their lifting potential should focus on lifting the heaviest weights they can until they exhaust themselves, as opposed to training longer with lighter weights. While muscle growth is stimulated by all types of training, the larger the weights lifted, the more that the training will stimulate the growth of muscle that will improve how much one can lift.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the passage?
(A) If they want to maximize their lifting potential, weightlifters should focus on lifting the heaviest weights they can until they exhaust themselves.
(B) There is no significant advantage to lifting lighter weights over lifting the heaviest possible ones.
(C) Lifting the heaviest weights possible is the most rewarding type of weightlifting.
(D) Some types of training with weights are superior to others.
(E) The larger the weights lifted, the more that thetraining will improve maximum lifting potential.