#2 - Local, Could Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=15932)

The correct answer choice is (D)

This question is best attacked with hypotheticals. The question stem establishes that R is Garibaldi’s seventh meeting:

pt44_o04_g1_q2a.png

From our discussion of the first and last meetings, we know that either F or T must now be Garibaldi’s first meeting. However, the placement of R has limited the options for F, and if T is placed first then from the third rule S must be the second meeting, and there would not be sufficient room to separate the three meetings with F (meetings 1, 2, and 7 would be occupied, leaving only meetings 3-6 for the three Fs). Consequently, we can infer that F must be Garibaldi’s first meeting:

pt44_o04_g1_q2b.png

At this point, the placement of the TS block and the two remaining Fs must be considered. The TS block cannot occupy meetings #3-4 or #5-6 because that would force two of the three Fs to be consecutive (if this does not appear logical, try placing the TS block in either of those positions and observe the results). Consequently, there are only two possible scenarios:

• 1. TS occupies the second and third meetings and the remaining two Fs occupy the fourth and sixth meetings. M is then forced into the fifth meeting.
  
  2. TS occupies the fourth and fifth meetings and the remaining two Fs occupy the third and sixth meetings. M is then forced into the second meeting.

The two scenarios can be diagrammed as follows:

pt44_o04_g1_q2c.png

Answer choices (A), (C), and (E): According to the two solutions to this question, Garibaldi’s meets with S in either the third or fifth meetings. Consequently, each of these answer choices is incorrect.

Answer choice (B): As shown by the two diagrams, Garibaldi’s third meeting must either be with F or S, and thus this answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice.