#2 - Local, Must Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=8639)


The correct answer choice is (A)

When examining the linear portion of the setup, take special note of the dual-options. A favorite trick of the test makers is to “take away” one of the variables in a dual-option to see if you recognize that the other variable is then forced into a position. Because either J or L must be second, and according to the question stem J is more popular than L, L cannot be second and J must be second. Answer choice (A) reflects that fact and is correct.

[David44357]

I am on page 1-26 of the PowerScore Test Preparation book. Using the local rules, I have the sequencing problem diagrammed as H>J>L>Q>S>P and L>V. From what I can tell, the first three positions should be HJL, whereas the position of the remaining variables is unknown, since V could be anywhere after L, pushing QSP into different positions. Therefore option (a) (J in the second position) and (c) (L in third) should both be right, but the answer is actually A. Was hoping someone could help me understand why (c) is not correct.

[Robert Carroll]

David,

Check your rules about Q. Once J occurs, L or Q could be next.

Robert Carroll

[mchalhoub]

With this question, is the best strategy to redraw the diagram? Or is there a shortcut around redrawing the entire sketch?

[Shannon Parker]

Hey there,

Unfortunately there is no shortcut to making a diagram of the rules that are local to each question.

~Shannon

[kmaragh]

I understand that J must be second but couldn't we argue that Q could also be third since it according to the rules Q follows J. Also P could be 7th. So how do I pick that J being second must be true when it could be true that Q must be third or P must be seventh? Are we to assume that even though J is more popular than L, that it could be possible that it could be possible that L is before Q? But still I'm confused as to why P is seventh must be true if S is more popular than P.

[Christen Hammock]

Hi Kmaragh!

You're confusing what must be true and what could be true. You're right that Q could be third, but L could be third as well! The only one of these that absolutely must be true in every scenario is J=2.

[alexakinosh@gmail.com]

Hi, I know you kind of touched upon this a bit earlier but can't "P is seventh" also be true? Since S is more popular than P, doesn't P also take last place, in equal correctness to J being second?

[Bob O'Halloran]

Hi Alexa,
Thank you for your question.

The key word in the question stem is Must

P could be seventh, but it could also be sixth with V being seventh. In the case of J, it has to be second, we have no other choice available.

Let us know if you have any additional questions.

[rcthomas23]

Hi there,

I represented the local diagram for this question with L-V below J to indicate that L came after J, like this:

H-J-Q-S-P

L-V

Would that be a correct representation? I ended up getting the right answer.