#18 - Local, Could Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=980)

The correct answer choice is (C)

If G does not sit in row 1, from the first rule G must sit in row 2 and H must sit in row 3. I must then occupy a window seat in row 2 or 3:

G3-Q18-d1.png

This information eliminates answer choices (A) and (D).

The only remaining aisle seat is in row 1, and if M were to occupy that seat, then K would have a window seat, which would lead to a violation of the fourth rule. Thus, M cannot sit in the row 1 aisle seat, which eliminates answer choice (E).

The remaining two answer choices—answer choices (B) and (C)—address row 2, of which the window seat is the only remaining seat available. If K sits in the row 2 window seat, then from the fourth rule M would have to sit in the row 3 window seat, forcing I to sit in row 1. But, this causes a violation of the condition in the question stem, and thus K cannot sit in row 2. This information eliminates answer choice (B), and thus answer choice (C) is correct.

The following hypothetical shows that answer choice (C) is possible:

G3-Q18-d2.png

[bethavedon]

Could you help explain why answer choice (E) couldn't also be a could be true here?

If neither G nor I are in row 1, then H must be Row 3 Aisle and G must be Row 2 Aisle. So when I play out answer choice (E) "Moore occupies an aisle seat", I get:

Row 3 L H
Row 2 I G
Row 1 K M

(with the left side being window and the right side as aisle) Which looks okay to me - could you help me figure out what I'm missing?

Thanks,

Beth

[Jonathan Evans]

Hi, Beth,

With a template such as the following:

_ _ _ w
_ _ _ a
1 2 3

and the condition that neither G nor I is in row 1, you get the following possibilities:

K I M w
L H H a
1 2 3

or

M/L _ _ w (with I and either M or L in the 2nd and 3rd window seats)
K G H a
1 2 3

Therefore E is impossible. Moore must be in a window seat. On this game, pay particularly close attention to the sufficient conditions of the conditional statements. The variable that controls most of the outcomes is K. Proceed on this question to determine first that the GH block (acting as a puzzle piece more or less) has to cover the 2nd and 3rd aisle seats. Then consider that the only possible places for K are in row 1 (either window or aisle). In row 2, K would violate the KG IM clue. In row 3, K would violate the Kw M3 rule.