#9 - Local, Could Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=11091)

The correct answer choice is (E)

If M is scheduled for the second performance, then from the last rule P must be scheduled for the fifth performance (and L cannot be scheduled for the third performance). This information eliminates answer choices (C) and (D).

Answer choices (A) and (B) can be eliminated because with P performing fifth, the KJ block cannot be placed so J is sixth or K is fourth. Hence, answer choice (E) is correct.

[LeslyLSATinLA]

I'm still a little confused on how E is correct. I chose D. Is E correct because P being fifth forces O at 4th and the KJ block at slots 6 and 7?Can someone clarify this?

[Adam Tyson]

As the explanation at the top of the thread explains, if M is 2nd, P must be 5th, since P can only ever be 2nd or 5th according to the last rule of the game. That already eliminates answer D - N cannot be 5th because P is 5th! It has nothing to do with O or the KJ block.

Answer E is correct simply because it is the only answer that could be true. All the others would end up violating some rule of the game!

To illustrate, here are some possible solutions when M is 2nd:

OMKJPLN
LMNOPKJ
OMNLPKJ
NMKJPOL

There are others, but you can see that O is NOT forced to be 4th and the KJ block is NOT forced to be 6th and 7th, even though those are all options. But K cannot be 4th, since that would force J to be 5th, which cannot occur since P is 5th. J cannot be 6th for the same reason - that would make K 5th, but P is 5th. L cannot be 3rd because that would require N to be 5th, but it isn't 5th - P is.

This isn't a Must Be True question, and O doesn't have to be 4th. It's a Could Be True question, and O could be 4th!