#20 - Local, Could Be True, List

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=15947)

The correct answer choice is (D)

This is the first local question of the game. If R speaks second at meeting 2 and first at meeting 3, then according to our analysis of the first rule R cannot speak first or second at meeting 1.

Accordingly, answer choices (B), (C), and (E) can be eliminated. The difference between the remaining two answer choices is whether R can speak third at meeting 1. Since there is no constraint on speaking third, and no violation caused by R speaking third, it follows that answer choice (D) is correct.

Note that this answer choice reflects the fact that just because a candidate speaks first does not mean that candidate has to speak fifth. The second rule as stated and diagrammed can be paraphrased as “if a candidate speaks fifth at a meeting, then at some other meeting they must speak first.”

[hope]

Why can't R speak second at Meeting 1. When you look at #19's list question, R is speaking in Slot 2 of both Mtg 1 and 2. So why is that same setup now outlawed in # 20? It seems to me to be no violation if R spoke second at Meeting 1. Please help. Thank you.

[Frank Peter]

Hi Hope,

If R spoke in slot 2 in Meeting 1, then R would be occupying too many of the 1st and 2nd slots. Because each variable has to be placed in either slot 1 or 2 at least once, allowing R to speak three times in slots 1 or 2 would not give enough room for all of our variables to occupy slots 1 or 2 at least once.

In #19, R can speak 2nd in Meeting 1 because we only have one other instance of R being in slots 1 or 2: in this case R is also in slot 2 in Meeting 2.

Often times in logic games, if you get stuck it helps to think about how the placement of one variable is affecting the other variables and their requirements.

[hope]

Thanks I can see that now.