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LSAT Writing practice questions

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Question 1Argumentative Writing

A candidate is writing the LSAT Argumentative Writing essay and is unsure how to begin. Which opening most directly satisfies the task of establishing a clear position on the two options presented?

  1. This essay will explore the advantages and disadvantages of each option in turn.
  2. Many people have debated this question for years, and reasonable minds differ on which choice is wiser.
  3. While both options have merit, I will argue that the first is preferable because it better protects the interests of those most affected. Correct answer.
  4. Before deciding, it is useful to consider the history of similar decisions and how they were received.

Explanation

The writing task rewards a committed, defensible position, so the strongest opening states a clear choice and gestures at the criterion (protecting affected interests) that will carry the argument. Hovering between options or promising a neutral survey delays the thesis and signals indecision.

Question 2Argumentative Writing

In an argumentative essay, a writer claims that a town should fund a new library branch. Which sentence functions as the conclusion rather than a premise?

  1. Residents in the eastern district currently travel more than thirty minutes to reach the nearest branch.
  2. Library use in comparable towns rises when a branch opens within walking distance.
  3. The eastern district has added several thousand households over the past decade.
  4. The town should therefore fund a new library branch in the eastern district. Correct answer.

Explanation

The conclusion is the claim the argument is trying to establish, and it is typically signaled by words such as 'therefore' or 'should.' The other sentences supply evidence that would support that claim rather than assert it as the point being argued.

Question 3Argumentative Writing

A writer argues that a city should ban single-use plastic bags because a similar ban in a neighboring city reduced plastic waste. Which unstated assumption must the writer defend for this analogy to support the conclusion?

  1. The two cities are relevantly similar in the conditions that made the ban effective. Correct answer.
  2. Some residents will oppose the ban regardless of the evidence presented.
  3. Plastic waste is the only environmental problem the city should address.
  4. The neighboring city's residents care more about environmental issues than this city's residents do.

Explanation

An argument from analogy works only if the cases compared share the features that matter to the outcome. If the neighboring city succeeded because of conditions this city lacks, the comparison loses its force, so that similarity is the assumption the writer must establish.

Question 4Argumentative Writing

A candidate's paragraph reads: 'Remote work reduces commuting. Commuting is stressful. Therefore companies should allow remote work.' Which revision best strengthens the reasoning by making the inferential link explicit?

  1. Because commuting is a significant source of stress and remote work eliminates it, companies that can allow remote work should do so to reduce employee stress. Correct answer.
  2. Companies should allow remote work, and many employees report that commuting is stressful.
  3. Commuting is stressful for some workers, and remote work is one option among several that companies might consider.
  4. Remote work is popular with many employees and has been adopted widely across industries.

Explanation

A strong revision states the causal connection between eliminating the stressor and the recommended policy, so the conclusion follows from the premises rather than sitting beside them. The original leaves the reader to infer why reduced commuting should drive a company obligation.

Question 5Argumentative Writing

An essay must choose between funding a job-training program and expanding a public transit line. Which approach best demonstrates the comparative reasoning the writing task rewards?

  1. Weigh the two options against a stated criterion, such as which helps more residents reach employment, and explain why the chosen option wins. Correct answer.
  2. Describe the personal experiences of people who use each service and let readers decide.
  3. Argue for job training and mention transit only in a closing sentence to acknowledge it exists.
  4. List every benefit of job training and every benefit of transit, without ranking either.

Explanation

The task asks the writer to select between two options and justify the choice, which requires a criterion and a comparison showing why the selected option better satisfies it. A criterion-based weighing directly answers the question rather than merely cataloguing features.

Question 6Argumentative Writing

A writer asserts that a proposed curfew will reduce juvenile crime because 'young people commit more offenses late at night.' Which challenge most directly tests the strength of that premise?

  1. Whether other cities have curfews of their own
  2. Whether the curfew would be popular with parents
  3. Whether the writer personally supports the curfew
  4. Whether the data on offense times are accurate and representative of the community Correct answer.

Explanation

The premise rests on an empirical claim about when offenses occur, so its strength depends on the reliability and representativeness of that data. Questioning the evidence behind the premise directly tests whether the argument's support holds.

Question 7Argumentative Writing

Which sentence uses a transition that correctly signals a concession within an argumentative paragraph?

  1. Admittedly, the plan is costly, but its long-term savings outweigh the upfront expense. Correct answer.
  2. The plan is costly because the plan requires new staff.
  3. The plan is costly; therefore, it will exceed the budget.
  4. The plan is costly, and the plan is also expensive to administer.

Explanation

A concession acknowledges a point that cuts against the writer's position before answering it, and 'admittedly...but' performs exactly that move. The other sentences either assert causal or additive relations without acknowledging an opposing consideration.

Question 8Argumentative Writing

A paragraph argues: 'The scholarship should go to the applicant with the highest test score. After all, test scores predict academic success, and we want the scholarship to reward likely success.' Which statement, if true, would most weaken the argument?

  1. The applicant with the highest test score also has strong letters of recommendation.
  2. Test scores predict success only weakly for applicants from under-resourced schools, who are the majority of this pool. Correct answer.
  3. Some applicants with lower scores have impressive extracurricular records.
  4. The scholarship committee has awarded the prize to high scorers in past years.

Explanation

The argument's bridge is that test scores predict academic success, so evidence that the prediction fails for most of the applicant pool undercuts the reason for selecting the top scorer. A weakened predictive link removes the support the conclusion depends on.

Question 9Argumentative Writing

When drafting the body of the argumentative essay, which organizational choice best supports a coherent line of reasoning?

  1. Alternate between supporting the chosen option and supporting the rejected one to seem balanced.
  2. Present each supporting reason in its own paragraph, with the strongest reason developed first or last. Correct answer.
  3. Combine all reasons into a single long paragraph so the reader sees them together.
  4. Order reasons alphabetically by topic label to keep the structure predictable.

Explanation

Developing one reason per paragraph gives each claim room for evidence and explanation, and placing the strongest reason at a prominent position emphasizes the case. This structure makes the reasoning easy to follow and evaluate.

Question 10Argumentative Writing

A writer concludes that a company's new scheduling software caused a drop in missed shifts, citing that both changes happened in the same month. Which criticism best identifies the flaw?

  1. The writer fails to define what counts as a missed shift.
  2. The writer should have interviewed employees about their preferences.
  3. The writer assumes that correlation in timing establishes causation without ruling out other explanations. Correct answer.
  4. The writer relies on a single company rather than an industry-wide sample.

Explanation

Two events occurring together does not establish that one caused the other, since other changes in the same month could explain the drop. The argument's central flaw is treating temporal correlation as sufficient evidence of a causal relationship.

Question 11Argumentative Writing

Which sentence most effectively integrates a counterargument into an essay defending a mandatory community-service requirement for students?

  1. Some people disagree, but they are simply wrong about the value of service.
  2. Everyone knows that community service is valuable for students and their communities.
  3. Critics say mandatory service is coercive, yet a requirement that offers varied placements preserves student choice about how to serve. Correct answer.
  4. Community service is mandatory in some schools and optional in others.

Explanation

An effective counterargument treatment states the objection fairly and then answers it with reasoning, which this sentence does by addressing the coercion concern directly. Dismissing opponents or ignoring the objection leaves the argument one-sided.

Question 12Argumentative Writing

A candidate writes: 'Either we raise tuition or we sacrifice educational quality.' Which description best characterizes this move within an argument?

  1. It introduces an irrelevant anecdote about a single student.
  2. It provides a statistical generalization about tuition trends.
  3. It offers a false dilemma by assuming only two options exist. Correct answer.
  4. It restates the conclusion using different words.

Explanation

The sentence presents two choices as exhaustive when other possibilities, such as efficiency reforms or new revenue sources, may exist. Framing a decision as a two-way choice without justification is the false-dilemma fallacy.

Question 13Argumentative Writing

Which revision best removes a vague appeal to authority from this sentence: 'Experts agree the new policy is best, so the council should adopt it'?

  1. Many experts agree the new policy is best, so the council should adopt it.
  2. Experts agree the new policy is best, and the council should adopt it soon.
  3. A transportation economist whose study modeled this policy found it cut delays by 20 percent, which supports adoption. Correct answer.
  4. The council should adopt the new policy, according to several experts who have studied it.

Explanation

An appeal to authority becomes legitimate when the authority is identified, relevant to the issue, and tied to specific evidence. Naming the expert's field and findings converts a bare assertion into support the reader can assess.

Question 14Argumentative Writing

A writer wants to argue that a university should keep its campus museum open. Which reason is most relevant to that conclusion?

  1. The museum director has held the position for many years.
  2. The museum provides free educational programming used by local schools and university classes. Correct answer.
  3. The museum's building has an unusual architectural design.
  4. The museum is located near a popular coffee shop.

Explanation

Relevant support bears directly on the value of keeping the museum open, and educational programming used by schools and classes supplies that value. The other facts describe incidental features that do not bear on whether the museum should remain open.

Question 15Argumentative Writing

In the argumentative essay, a writer states: 'The city council should prioritize road repairs. Potholes damage vehicles, and damaged vehicles impose costs on drivers.' Which element is missing that would make this a complete argument?

  1. A quotation from a famous person about infrastructure
  2. A list of every road in the city
  3. An explanation of why the council is the appropriate body to act and why this priority outranks alternatives Correct answer.
  4. A rhetorical question to engage the reader

Explanation

The paragraph establishes a problem but never shows why the council should prioritize it over competing uses of funds, which is the comparative claim the conclusion makes. Supplying that ranking and the council's role completes the inference.

Question 16Argumentative Writing

Which sentence uses precise, arguable language rather than vague evaluative language appropriate to an argumentative essay?

  1. The proposal seems somewhat problematic in a number of important ways.
  2. The proposal would raise annual costs for the average household by roughly 300 dollars while delivering no measurable reduction in wait times. Correct answer.
  3. The proposal is clearly a very bad idea for everyone involved.
  4. The proposal is not good and many people are unhappy about it.

Explanation

Arguable claims use specific, checkable terms so a reader can assess them, and this sentence supplies concrete cost and outcome figures. Vague evaluative words such as 'bad' or 'problematic' assert a judgment without giving the reader anything to evaluate.

Question 17Argumentative Writing

A writer argues: 'If we allow late homework, students will learn that deadlines do not matter, and soon no one will submit work on time.' Which fallacy does this reasoning most clearly exhibit?

  1. Slippery slope Correct answer.
  2. Appeal to ignorance
  3. Ad hominem
  4. Circular reasoning

Explanation

A slippery slope treats a first step as inevitably leading to an extreme outcome without justifying each link in the chain. The argument moves from one policy change to a predicted collapse of deadlines without defending that progression.

Question 18Argumentative Writing

A candidate must decide between two options in the writing task and wants to address the strongest objection to the chosen option. Where should that objection be handled for the clearest argumentative structure?

  1. After the supporting reasons, in a paragraph that states the objection and explains why it does not defeat the position Correct answer.
  2. Nowhere, because mentioning objections weakens the essay
  3. In a footnote so it does not interrupt the main argument
  4. In the opening sentence, before the position is stated

Explanation

Placing the objection after the affirmative case lets the writer first establish the position and then show it survives scrutiny, which strengthens credibility. Handling the strongest counterpoint directly demonstrates that the choice was made with full awareness of the tradeoffs.

Question 19Argumentative Writing

A writer claims a new bike-lane policy will increase safety because 'accidents fell in cities that added bike lanes.' To strengthen this argument, which addition is most useful?

  1. A description of the color and width of the new lanes
  2. A quote from a cyclist who feels safer on the new lanes
  3. Evidence that the decline in accidents occurred specifically along the new lanes and was not matched in comparable cities without them Correct answer.
  4. A statement that many residents enjoy cycling

Explanation

Strengthening a causal claim requires evidence that isolates the policy as the cause, such as a localized decline absent in comparable cities. That comparison reduces the chance that unrelated trends explain the drop.

Question 20Argumentative Writing

Which sentence best states a criterion that can be used to compare the two options in the argumentative writing task?

  1. The better option is the one that most reduces the number of residents facing housing insecurity. Correct answer.
  2. The better option is the one supported by the more enthusiastic advocates.
  3. The better option is whichever one is cheaper to advertise.
  4. The better option is the one that most people would probably like.

Explanation

A usable criterion names a specific outcome that can be compared across options, such as reducing housing insecurity. Criteria tied to popularity, advertising cost, or advocate enthusiasm do not measure the substantive value of the options.

Question 21Argumentative Writing

A paragraph reads: 'Our rivals lowered prices and gained customers. We must lower prices too.' Which question most directly tests whether the analogy supports the recommendation?

  1. Whether lowering prices is a common business practice
  2. Whether our rivals have been in business longer
  3. Whether our rivals have a larger marketing budget
  4. Whether our customers are similarly price-sensitive and our costs allow a comparable reduction Correct answer.

Explanation

The recommendation depends on the two firms being similar in the factors that made the price cut work, namely customer price sensitivity and cost structure. If those conditions differ, the rivals' experience does not support copying their move.

Question 22Argumentative Writing

Which sentence most clearly commits the fallacy of attacking the person rather than the argument?

  1. The proposal deserves scrutiny because its data source is unclear.
  2. The proposal should be revised because its timeline is unrealistic.
  3. The proposal's cost estimate is unreliable because it omits maintenance expenses.
  4. We should reject the proposal because its author is inexperienced and unlikeable. Correct answer.

Explanation

An ad hominem response rejects a claim by citing a trait of the person making it rather than a defect in the reasoning. The author's experience or personality does not by itself show that the proposal is flawed.

Question 23Argumentative Writing

A writer's conclusion is that a school should adopt a later start time. The premises describe sleep research and adolescent biology. Which added premise would most improve the fit between the evidence and the conclusion?

  1. Later start times have been adopted by schools in other countries.
  2. The school's current start time has been in place for many years.
  3. Adolescents generally dislike waking up early.
  4. A later start time would allow students to obtain the sleep duration the research associates with improved academic performance. Correct answer.

Explanation

The research supports a recommendation only if the proposed change actually produces the benefit the research identifies. Connecting the later start time to the sleep duration linked with better performance closes the gap between evidence and conclusion.

Question 24Argumentative Writing

A candidate wants each body paragraph to advance the argument rather than merely summarize. Which topic sentence best accomplishes that?

  1. There are many things to consider about the second option.
  2. This paragraph will discuss the second option in more detail.
  3. Another point is worth mentioning about the second option.
  4. The second option better serves the stated goal because it reaches more residents at a lower per-person cost. Correct answer.

Explanation

A topic sentence that advances an argument states the specific claim the paragraph will support and ties it to the criterion for choosing between options. Announcing a topic without a claim leaves the paragraph without an argumentative function.

Question 25Argumentative Writing

A writer argues that a city should install more streetlights because 'residents have requested them and lighting makes streets safer.' Which pair of criticisms is most relevant to evaluating this argument?

  1. Whether the request is representative and whether lighting actually reduces crime or accidents Correct answer.
  2. Whether the writer likes streetlights and whether the city has a budget
  3. Whether other cities have streetlights and whether residents pay taxes
  4. Whether the lights are attractive and whether installation is quick

Explanation

The argument rests on a claim about demand and a claim about safety effects, so evaluating it requires asking whether the demand is representative and whether the safety claim is true. These two questions test the premises that carry the conclusion.

Question 26Argumentative Writing

In the LSAT argumentative writing task, a candidate must choose between two specified options and defend the choice. Which sentence best states a criterion that is genuinely useful for comparing those two options?

  1. The option described first in the prompt is generally the safer choice for a writer.
  2. Whichever option the majority of surveyed stakeholders prefer should be adopted.
  3. A good decision is one that avoids any criticism from interested parties.
  4. The better option is the one that satisfies the most important stated goal at an acceptable cost. Correct answer.

Explanation

A usable comparison criterion must be decision-relevant: it should connect the choice to a goal and to tradeoffs such as cost or feasibility. Criteria that merely count preferences or avoid criticism do not tell the reader how to weigh the two options. The chosen sentence supplies a standard the writer can apply to both options.

Question 27Argumentative Writing

A writer opens an argumentative essay with: 'Everyone knows that a later school start time is the obvious fix, and anyone who disagrees simply does not care about teenagers.' Which description best characterizes the main weakness of this opening?

  1. It relies on an unsupported generalization and a personal attack rather than reasons. Correct answer.
  2. It provides too much statistical evidence for a single opening sentence.
  3. It states the conclusion before any premises have been given.
  4. It concedes too much ground to the opposing position too early.

Explanation

The sentence appeals to what 'everyone knows' without support and dismisses opponents by questioning their motives rather than their reasoning. Both moves substitute pressure for argument. A strong opening instead frames a defensible claim and signals the reasons to follow.

Question 28Argumentative Writing

A candidate wants to argue that a city should fund a new public transit line. Which reason is most directly relevant to that conclusion?

  1. The transit authority recently redesigned its logo and website.
  2. Several other cities have transit systems of varying quality.
  3. Construction of the line would reduce average commute times for residents along the route. Correct answer.
  4. The mayor has expressed personal enthusiasm for public transportation.

Explanation

A relevant reason must bear on whether funding the line would achieve the goals that justify public spending, such as improved mobility. Reduced commute times is a concrete benefit tied to the proposal. The other options mention facts that do not establish any benefit or cost of the line itself.

Question 29Argumentative Writing

In an argumentative essay, which sentence uses language that is precise and genuinely arguable rather than vague or purely evaluative?

  1. The new parking policy is somewhat unfortunate in certain respects.
  2. The new parking policy is clearly a bad idea for everyone involved.
  3. The new parking policy will raise monthly costs for downtown commuters by an estimated forty dollars. Correct answer.
  4. The new parking policy is the kind of thing that reasonable people might question.

Explanation

Precise, arguable language makes a claim specific enough to be supported and contested with evidence. A stated cost increase for an identified group is checkable and debatable. Vague evaluative phrases such as 'bad idea' or 'unfortunate' assert a judgment without giving the reader anything concrete to assess.

Question 30Argumentative Writing

A writer's paragraph reads: 'The library should extend its weekend hours. Students have repeatedly requested longer hours. The library's own usage logs show weekend demand exceeds capacity.' Which statement best describes how the second and third sentences function in the argument?

  1. They provide independent support for the paragraph's opening claim. Correct answer.
  2. They restate the opening claim in different words.
  3. They qualify the conclusion by admitting the policy might fail.
  4. They state the conclusion the paragraph is trying to establish.

Explanation

The opening sentence is the claim, and the two following sentences supply distinct reasons for it: expressed demand and measured demand. Together they function as premises supporting the conclusion. Recognizing this structure is essential to evaluating whether the support is adequate.

Question 31Argumentative Writing

A writer states: 'If the company installs a rooftop garden, employee morale will improve, because green spaces are pleasant.' Which question most directly tests the strength of this reasoning?

  1. Whether the company has considered other landscaping options?
  2. Whether rooftop gardens have been photographed for promotional materials?
  3. Whether the writer personally enjoys spending time outdoors?
  4. Whether pleasant surroundings are enough to change morale at this particular workplace? Correct answer.

Explanation

The argument assumes a link between pleasant green space and improved morale at this workplace. The most direct challenge asks whether that link actually holds here, since the assumption is doing the argumentative work. Other questions are peripheral to that inferential step.

Question 32Argumentative Writing

Which sentence most clearly commits the fallacy of attacking the person rather than addressing the argument?

  1. The proposal to expand bus service should be rejected because ridership studies predict low demand on the route.
  2. The proposal to expand bus service should be rejected because its projected costs exceed the transit budget.
  3. The proposal to expand bus service should be rejected because it duplicates an existing line.
  4. The proposal to expand bus service should be rejected because its author is a notoriously unreliable speaker. Correct answer.

Explanation

An ad hominem attack rejects a claim by disparaging the person who made it instead of evaluating the claim's merits. The first sentence does exactly that, treating the author's character as the reason to reject the proposal. The other sentences offer substantive objections about cost, demand, or duplication.

Question 33Argumentative Writing

A candidate wants each body paragraph of the argumentative essay to advance the argument rather than merely summarize the prompt. Which topic sentence best accomplishes that?

  1. There are two options described in the prompt, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
  2. The second option better serves the stated goal because it can be implemented without new funding. Correct answer.
  3. Many people have different opinions about the two options.
  4. This paragraph will discuss the second option mentioned in the prompt.

Explanation

An advancing topic sentence makes a specific claim that supports the overall position and previews the reasoning to follow. Linking an option to the stated goal and to a concrete constraint does that work. Sentences that announce a topic or note that opinions differ do not move the argument forward.

Question 34Argumentative Writing

A writer argues: 'Our firm should adopt a four-day workweek. Employees who work four days report higher satisfaction, so the change will make everyone here happier.' Which assumption does the argument most depend on?

  1. Higher satisfaction is unrelated to how many days employees work.
  2. All employees at the firm currently work the same number of days per week.
  3. The firm has already tried shorter schedules in the past.
  4. Satisfaction reported elsewhere would carry over to this firm's employees under a similar schedule. Correct answer.

Explanation

The argument moves from evidence about other employees to a prediction about this firm, so it needs the assumption that results would transfer to a comparable setting. Without that bridge, the cited reports do not support the prediction. The remaining options concern details the inference does not require.

Question 35Argumentative Writing

A paragraph reads: 'Our competitor cut prices and gained market share. Therefore we must cut prices too.' Which question most directly tests the soundness of this inference?

  1. Whether the competitor has a well-known brand name?
  2. Whether market share is measured quarterly or annually?
  3. Whether the competitor's price cut was the actual cause of its gain in market share? Correct answer.
  4. Whether our firm has ever changed its prices before?

Explanation

The argument treats a sequence of events as a causal relationship, so the key question is whether the price cut, rather than some other factor, produced the gain. If another cause explains the competitor's success, copying the price cut may not help. The remaining questions are peripheral to that causal link.

Question 36Argumentative Writing

A writer concludes that a school should adopt a later start time, citing sleep research on adolescents and evidence that later starts correlate with better attendance. Which statement most accurately describes the role of the sleep research in this argument?

  1. It is an anecdote that replaces the need for evidence.
  2. It is the conclusion the writer is trying to establish.
  3. It is a general principle used to support a specific recommendation. Correct answer.
  4. It is a counterexample that undermines the recommendation.

Explanation

The recommendation is the conclusion, while the sleep research supplies a general principle about adolescent needs that, together with attendance data, supports applying that principle here. Identifying this supporting role helps the writer see what additional evidence the argument needs. It is not itself the claim being defended.

Question 37Argumentative Writing

A candidate writes: 'Either the university builds a new dormitory or it will be forced to turn away qualified students.' Which description best characterizes this statement as used in an argumentative essay?

  1. It defines a key term that the essay will rely on.
  2. It concedes the opposing view before refuting it.
  3. It offers a statistical generalization supported by enrollment data.
  4. It presents a false dilemma by overlooking other ways to house more students. Correct answer.

Explanation

The statement frames the situation as having only two possibilities when other responses, such as leasing nearby housing or expanding existing facilities, may exist. Presenting a limited set of options as exhaustive is the false dilemma pattern. A careful writer would acknowledge the alternatives before arguing for a preferred course.

Question 38Argumentative Writing

A writer wants to strengthen an argument that a company should allow remote work. Which addition would most improve the argument's evidential support?

  1. A statement that remote work is popular in the news media.
  2. A comparison of productivity and retention data for teams before and after a remote-work pilot. Correct answer.
  3. An assertion that traditional offices have always existed.
  4. A quotation from a manager who personally dislikes remote work.

Explanation

Strong support ties the proposal to measurable outcomes that bear on the decision, such as productivity and retention before and after a pilot. That evidence addresses the likely concerns of a decision-maker. The other additions either undercut the claim or supply irrelevant background.

Question 39Argumentative Writing

In the argumentative writing task, a writer addresses the strongest objection to the chosen option. Which sentence best integrates that objection while preserving the writer's position?

  1. The plan costs too much, so perhaps the other option is better after all.
  2. Although critics warn that the plan costs too much, phased funding would keep each year's outlay within the approved budget. Correct answer.
  3. Critics say the plan costs too much, and they are simply wrong about the budget.
  4. Some critics have raised concerns, but those concerns are not worth discussing.

Explanation

Effective integration names the objection accurately and responds to it with a reason that preserves the original position. Acknowledging the cost concern and then showing how phased funding addresses it does exactly that. Dismissing critics or abandoning the position fails to engage the objection.

Question 40Argumentative Writing

A writer claims a new bike-lane policy will improve safety because 'accidents fell in cities that added bike lanes.' To make this argument more rigorous, which step is most important?

  1. Interviewing cyclists about whether they enjoy using the new lanes.
  2. Confirming that the policy was announced in a press release.
  3. Checking whether the accident decline occurred in cities without new bike lanes as well. Correct answer.
  4. Finding additional cities that added bike lanes and reporting their accident totals.

Explanation

The argument infers causation from a correlation, so it must rule out alternative explanations such as a general downward trend in accidents. Comparing cities without bike lanes helps determine whether the lanes made the difference. Merely adding more examples of the same correlation does not address that weakness.

Question 41Argumentative Writing

A candidate's paragraph reads: 'The city should expand its bike-share program. Bike-share reduces traffic congestion. Bike-share is also inexpensive to operate.' Which revision most improves the paragraph's argumentative coherence?

  1. Adding a sentence that lists the names of several bike-share stations.
  2. Replacing both reasons with a description of how bicycles are manufactured.
  3. Connecting each reason to the expansion decision and ordering the reasons by importance. Correct answer.
  4. Removing the conclusion so the paragraph presents only facts.

Explanation

Coherence improves when each reason is explicitly linked to the claim and the reasons are arranged in a purposeful order. That helps the reader see why the evidence matters to the decision. Listing station names, dropping the conclusion, or shifting to manufacturing details would weaken the argument.

Question 42Argumentative Writing

A writer states: 'Experts agree the new curriculum is best, so the district should adopt it.' Which revision best removes the vague appeal to authority?

  1. The district should adopt the new curriculum because it is newer than the current one.
  2. The district should adopt the new curriculum because a named panel of reading researchers found it raised comprehension scores in controlled trials. Correct answer.
  3. The district should adopt the new curriculum because experts generally support good ideas.
  4. The district should adopt the new curriculum because a majority of parents favor change.

Explanation

A vague appeal to authority cites unnamed agreement without showing relevant expertise or evidence. Replacing it with a specific source and the basis for its conclusion gives the reader something to evaluate. The other revisions either substitute a different unsupported appeal or rely on novelty.

Question 43Argumentative Writing

A candidate must defend a choice between two options in the argumentative writing task. Which approach best anticipates the decision-maker's priorities?

  1. Identify the criteria most likely to matter to the decision-maker and show how the chosen option performs on them. Correct answer.
  2. Argue that one option is superior without mentioning any costs or risks.
  3. Rely on emotional language to make the preferred option seem appealing.
  4. Describe both options at length and leave the choice to the reader.

Explanation

A persuasive case is built on criteria the audience cares about, such as cost, feasibility, and effect on stakeholders. Showing how the chosen option performs against those criteria gives the reader a reason to agree. Ignoring costs, refusing to choose, or relying on emotion leaves the decision unsupported.

Question 44Argumentative Writing

A paragraph reads: 'Students who eat breakfast earn higher grades. Therefore, providing free breakfast at school will raise grades.' Which statement identifies the most significant gap in the reasoning?

  1. It fails to specify which grades are being measured.
  2. It assumes that providing breakfast will cause students to eat it and that eating it causes the grade difference. Correct answer.
  3. It relies on a sample that is too small to describe.
  4. It confuses correlation with the definition of breakfast.

Explanation

The argument leaps from an observed association to a prediction about an intervention, which requires two causal assumptions: that a free program would change students' behavior and that breakfast itself produces the grade difference. Both must hold for the conclusion to follow. The remaining options misdescribe the flaw.

Question 45Argumentative Writing

A writer's draft contains the sentence: 'The council should reject the rezoning because residents are worried, and worry is a strong signal that something is wrong.' Which revision best turns this into a defensible premise?

  1. The council should reject the rezoning because a survey found that sixty percent of affected residents cited increased traffic as a specific concern. Correct answer.
  2. The council should reject the rezoning because residents are worried and worry is always correct.
  3. The council should reject the rezoning because change makes people uncomfortable.
  4. The council should reject the rezoning because the writer is worried as well.

Explanation

A defensible premise supplies specific, checkable information that bears on the decision, such as identified concerns from an affected group. Naming the concern and its prevalence gives the council something concrete to weigh. Appeals to the reliability of worry in general or to the writer's own feelings do not.

Question 46Argumentative Writing

A writer argues that a hospital should adopt an electronic records system: 'Paper records can be misplaced, and electronic records are stored in a database.' Which unstated assumption is needed for the conclusion to follow?

  1. Paper records have been used by hospitals for many decades.
  2. Electronic storage reduces the risk of misplacement enough to justify the change. Correct answer.
  3. All hospital staff prefer using computers to using paper.
  4. Electronic records systems are never subject to outages or security failures.

Explanation

The premises establish that paper records can be lost and that electronic records are stored differently. To reach the recommendation, the argument needs the further claim that this difference meaningfully reduces loss and outweighs the costs of switching. Without that bridge, the premises do not support the conclusion.

Question 47Argumentative Writing

A candidate writes: 'The town should either ban cars downtown or accept that its air quality will never improve.' Which revision best repairs the reasoning while keeping the writer's environmental goal?

  1. The town should abandon its air-quality goal because the problem is too complex.
  2. The town should ban cars downtown because anyone who opposes the ban opposes clean air.
  3. The town should ban cars downtown because air quality matters to residents.
  4. The town should treat a car ban as one of several measures, including transit upgrades and emissions standards, that could improve downtown air quality. Correct answer.

Explanation

The original presents two extremes as the only possibilities. Reframing the car ban as one of several available measures removes the false dilemma while preserving the goal. The remaining revisions either keep an unsupported leap, attack opponents, or give up on the objective.

Question 48Argumentative Writing

A writer concludes that a company should switch suppliers because 'the current supplier missed two deadlines, and a new supplier has promised faster delivery.' Which consideration, if true, would most weaken the argument?

  1. The current supplier has been in business for many years.
  2. The new supplier's promised delivery times have not been verified and its prices are substantially higher. Correct answer.
  3. The company's purchasing department is well staffed.
  4. The new supplier's promotional materials are professionally designed.

Explanation

The argument rests on an unverified promise and ignores switching costs, so evidence that the promise is untested and the price is higher directly undercuts the case for switching. Longevity, staffing, and marketing quality do not bear on whether the switch would improve delivery at acceptable cost.

Question 49Argumentative Writing

A candidate's essay argues for one option but spends most of its length describing the other option's advantages before closing with a brief assertion of preference. Which diagnosis best explains why the essay is likely to be judged weak?

  1. The essay fails to define every term it uses.
  2. The essay uses too many transitional phrases between paragraphs.
  3. The essay addresses the writing task with excessive brevity.
  4. The essay's structure gives more support to the option it rejects, so the stated conclusion is not supported by the body. Correct answer.

Explanation

In argumentative writing, the body must supply reasons for the conclusion actually drawn. If most of the discussion favors the rejected option, the essay's support and its conclusion conflict, which undermines the argument regardless of polish. The problem is structural misalignment, not vocabulary or length.

Question 50Argumentative Writing

A writer claims: 'Because our pilot program raised customer satisfaction scores, expanding it company-wide will raise satisfaction everywhere.' Which principle, if accepted, would most seriously challenge this inference?

  1. Satisfaction scores are collected using a standardized survey instrument.
  2. The pilot program ran for a full year before results were reported.
  3. Pilot participants volunteered and may differ systematically from employees in other divisions. Correct answer.
  4. Customer satisfaction is one of several metrics the company tracks.

Explanation

The inference generalizes from a self-selected pilot group to the whole company. If volunteers differ systematically from other employees, the pilot results may not transfer, which directly challenges the expansion claim. Survey standardization, pilot duration, and the existence of other metrics do not undermine the generalization.