Strengthening LSAT Logical Reasoning: A Step-by-Step Guide

The LSAT Logical Reasoning section is designed to test your ability to evaluate, strengthen, and critique arguments effectively. One of the common question types you’ll encounter asks you to identify an answer that most strengthens an argument. In the video “How to Strengthen a LSAT Logical Reasoning Argument Using PrepTest 158 Section 3, Question 11,” a detailed process for tackling strengthen questions is outlined. This blog post provides a concise breakdown of the video’s key insights and strategies.

The Question: Strengthening an Argument

Strengthen questions require you to find an answer choice that makes the conclusion more convincing by providing additional support for the reasoning. In PrepTest 158, Section 3, Question 11, the argument discusses whether a certain ancient society was still a hunter-gatherer society. Evidence points to the society burning large areas of land, which some suggest indicates the beginning of large-scale agriculture. However, the lack of cultivation evidence leads to the conclusion that the society was likely still hunter-gatherer.

The task is to find an answer choice that strengthens the conclusion by showing why the fires support hunter-gatherer practices rather than agricultural ones.

Step-by-Step Approach to Strengthen Questions

1. Understand the Conclusion
   The conclusion states that the ancient society was likely still a hunter-gatherer society, despite the evidence of land burning. The reasoning relies on the lack of cultivation evidence to rule out agriculture.

2. Identify Potential Assumptions
   Consider what the argument assumes. For instance, it assumes that the use of fire can be consistent with hunter-gatherer practices.

3. Make a Prediction
   A strong answer will likely show how burning large areas of land aligns with hunter-gatherer behavior. For example, using fire to manage animal populations could support this conclusion.

4. Evaluate Each Answer Choice

   • Choice A: Suggests that agriculture predates fire usage. This weakens the argument by implying that fire may be associated with agriculture, so it’s incorrect.
   • Choice B: Discusses fire for cooking and heating, which is unrelated to large-scale burning, so it doesn’t strengthen the conclusion.
   • Choice C: Mentions plants with inedible seeds that require fire. This is ambiguous and doesn’t clearly support hunter-gatherer behavior, so it’s eliminated.
   • Choice D: States that hunter-gatherer societies used fire to move animal populations. This directly aligns with the prediction and strengthens the conclusion, making it the correct answer.
   • Choice E: Refers to burning organic material to enrich soil, which is more relevant to agriculture, so it doesn’t strengthen the argument.

5. Confirm Your Answer
   Ensure the selected choice clearly supports the conclusion. In this case, Choice D provides a plausible reason why hunter-gatherers would use fire, aligning with the argument’s logic.

Tips for Tackling Strengthen Questions

• Focus on the Conclusion: Always identify the argument’s conclusion and think about what would make it more convincing.
• Predict Before Reviewing Choices: Having a rough idea of what to look for will help you quickly eliminate irrelevant or weakening options.
• Beware of Irrelevance: Many answer choices will introduce information that doesn’t directly impact the argument. Stick to what strengthens the logic.

Final Thoughts: Building Confidence with Strengthen Questions

By following this structured approach, you can confidently tackle strengthen questions in the LSAT Logical Reasoning section. The video demonstrates how understanding the argument’s assumptions and crafting a prediction can streamline the process of finding the right answer. Practice these strategies regularly, and you’ll be well-prepared to handle any strengthen question on test day!

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