McGraw hills LSAT, 2014 edition (mcgraw hills lsat) falconer, russ johnson, drew

Read the introduction, Case 1, and Case 2 in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension.Week 2 Read the introduction and Cases 1 through 3 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games.. Work all of the on

Welcome to

McGraw-Hill’s

LSAT

Congratulations!You’ve chosen the LSAT guide from America’s leading educational publisher You

probably know us from many of the textbooks you used in school and college Now we’re ready tohelp you take the next step — and get into the law school of your choice

This book/media package gives you everything you need to succeed on the test You’ll get in-depthinstruction and review of every topic tested, tips and strategies for every question type, and plenty ofpractice exams to boost your test-taking confidence To get started, go to the following pages whereyou’ll find:

How to Use This Book/Media Download Package: Step-by-step instructions to help you get the

most out of your test-prep program

Your LSAT Action Plan: Follow these suggested weekly study schedules to make the best use of

your preparation time

Checklist: LSAT Question Types and Solution Steps: Have a quick review guide at your

fingertips

50 Top LSAT Strategies: Make sure you’re ready for test day with this handy list of all the most

important test-taking strategies

Essential LSAT Vocabulary: Learn the terminology required for mastering logic games and

logical reasoning questions

Getting the Most from the Media Download and the Free Online Practice Tests and

Problem-Solving Videos: Sharpen your skills with interactive, on-screen practice tests

downloaded from the McGraw-Hill Professional Media Center, then log on to the companionwebsite for additional test-taking practice and to view videos demonstrating the use of problem-solving strategies to answer LSAT questions (If you purchased the enhanced version of this e-book, you needn’t go online for the problem-solving videos — you already have them!)

ABOUT McGRAW-HILL EDUCATION

This book has been created by McGraw-Hill Education McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment, and reference materials in both print and digital form McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65

languages With a broad range of products and services — from traditional textbooks to the latest in online and multimedia learning — we engage, stimulate, and empower students and professionals of all ages, helping them meet the increasing challenges of the 21st century

knowledge economy.

How to Use This Book/Download Package

This book and media download package provides all the material you need to score well on theLSAT It will teach you the knowledge that is required for this difficult exam, including

information about each type of question the test includes It also provides ample practice for you torefine the skills you are learning and then test yourself with full-length practice tests For bestresults, follow these steps

1 Learn about the LSAT

Chapter 1 will familiarize you with the format of the LSAT and briefly introduce its four differentsections You will also find valuable tips on how to approach test day and information about howthe test is scored The Diagnostic Test in Chapter 2 will help you get a sense of your strengths andweaknesses and how much you need to improve

2 Prepare for the Logic Games section

LSAT Logic Games do not “come naturally” to most test takers They require a particular set ofskills—classifying the games by type, diagramming the games, symbolizing the clues, and makingdeductions—that are unfamiliar to many people Fortunately, these skills are readily learnable andimprovable Chapter 3 introduces these skills with step-by-step demonstrations You can learnmore about how to solve logic games and other LSAT questions by viewing the videos on thisbook’s companion website

3 Prepare for the Arguments sections

Because there are two Arguments sections on each test, half of your LSAT score will be derivedfrom your performance on Arguments questions Chapter 4 introduces you to the ten different types

of questions you’ll encounter in the Arguments section It also contains guidelines on how to

identify right answers and common types of wrong answers for each of these question types

4 Prepare for the Reading Comprehension section

Chapter 5 lays out annotative reading, the style of reading that is best-suited to the requirements ofthe Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT Chapter 5 also provides techniques for tacklingeach of the six different question types you will encounter in Reading Comprehension and

provides strategies for approaching the comparative reading passage

5 Prepare for the Writing Sample section

Because the Writing Sample section is not scored, it is the least important of the test’s four

sections Chapter 6 details a five-paragraph format you can use to write a response to the WritingSample that is sure to be satisfactory in the event an admissions officer reads your essay

6 Take the Practice Tests

Get ready for the actual exam by taking the practice tests at the end of the book, downloaded from

the Media Center, and online at MHPracticePlus.com When you take each test, try to simulate

actual testing conditions Use a timer and use the answer sheet provided You’ll gain experiencewith the test format, and you’ll learn to pace yourself so that you can earn your highest score in the

time allowed.

Your LSAT Action Plan

To make the best use of your LSAT preparation time, you’ll need a personalized action plan that’sbased on your needs and the time you have available This book and media download package hasbeen designed for flexibility; you can study the material it contains in whatever order serves you best.Thus, to maximize the effectiveness of your preparation time, you should spend a few minutes to

develop a realistic plan of action that focuses on the areas in which you are the weakest, takes intoaccount the amount of time you have to prepare, and provides the discipline you need to pace yourselfand achieve your goals

Components of a Good Preparation Strategy

Make sure your action plan includes all the areas you need to cover There are three broad areas youneed to consider in any well-rounded action plan to master the LSAT

1 Knowledge and Skills

You’ll need a combination of knowledge and skills to find the correct answers to LSAT questions.Chapters 3-6 of this book give specific guidance on the knowledge and skill areas required Here is abroad summary:

Logic Game skills: You will need to learn how to diagram each game’s set up (i.e., its fact

pattern), symbolize clues, make deductions, and input new information into your diagram

Arguments skills: You will need to identify the different parts of an argument, understand exactlywhat the argument does or does not say, ascertain the place in an argument where key information

is missing, and describe and analyze the quality or pattern of the argument’s reasoning

Reading Comprehension skills: You will need to identify the main idea of each paragraph in thepassage, understand the main idea of the passage as a whole, annotate the passage so that you canquickly locate relevant details, and utilize your annotations as you work the questions

Writing skills: You will need to master a five-paragraph essay format in which you write a clear,well-organized essay that persuasively addresses both the strengths and weaknesses of two

competing policy proposals

2 Pacing and Endurance

The LSAT is both a sprint and a marathon With unlimited time, most test takers would get most of thequestions right But you don’t have unlimited time, so it is essential to develop the ability to workthrough the questions quickly without sacrificing accuracy But speed and accuracy are not enough Atnearly four hours in length, the LSAT also requires endurance You must have extraordinary mentalstamina to stay focused throughout the test The best way to prepare yourself for the pacing and

endurance challenges of the LSAT is to take practice tests, observing strict time limits There areseveral Practice Tests included with this book: in the back of the book, online, and on the Media

3 Test-Taking Strategies

To maximize your performance on the LSAT, you need to have a good understanding of the test,

including all the question types you’ll encounter Before you take the test, be sure you know the

instructions for each part of the test and have no confusion about the tasks you’ll be asked to perform.Knowing the instructions will not only avoid confusion but save valuable time during the test sinceyou won’t have to waste time figuring out the instructions

You’ll also need a good guessing strategy You do not lose any points for a wrong answer, so youshould answer every question This means that on some questions, you will need to guess What

differentiates good test takers from great test takers is the ability to guess in such a way as to

maximize the chances for a correct answer If you don’t know the correct answer, try to eliminateincorrect answers You can increase your odds of guessing correctly from the 20 percent of a

completely random guess to 25, 33, or even 50 percent, depending on how many answer choices

you’re able to eliminate

Creating Your Personalized Action Plan

A good LSAT action plan has two components: (1) studying and learning the skills, strategies, andtechniques presented in chapters 3 through 6 of this book; and (2) practicing those skills, strategies,and techniques on as many sample questions as possible But every action plan will be different, asits contents will be determined by the needs and priorities, available time, and even the personality ofthe individual test taker

It’s important that you make an LSAT action plan that’s realistic, something you can actually stick

to Take stock of your commitments to school and work and plan accordingly Map out consistenttimes each day and each week when you will be able to spend time working on LSAT prep Whateveraction plan you create for yourself should include the following three steps:

Step 1: Identify Your Needs

The LSAT is a unique test While parts of it are likely to be familiar, it also contains some questiontypes that you probably have never encountered before Thus, it’s important to begin your action plan

by taking a diagnostic exam Doing so will help you both familiarize yourself with the LSAT and alsodetermine which areas of the test you’ll need to focus on during your preparation

Step 2: Build Your Skills

Each section of the LSAT tests a different skill set The process of improving your LSAT score startswith learning and refining the skills and techniques you’ll use to approach each section of the test.The cases in chapters 3 through 6 introduce these techniques and help you build your skills in

applying them

Step 3: Practice under Test-Like Conditions

Improving your performance on the LSAT is like learning to ride a bike; the only way to do it is withconsistent, repeated practice Once you’ve learned how to approach each section of the LSAT, thefinal step is to practice applying your new skills under test-like conditions You can practice using thetwo Practice Tests that appear at the back of this book, the two practice tests on the Media Center,and the two practice tests online at MHPracticePlus.com/LSAT In addition, the LSAT that wasadministered in June of 2007 has been made available online as a free practice exam You can

download a copy of it at http://www.lsac.org/jd/pdfs/SamplePTJune.pdf

Sample LSAT Action Plans

On the following pages are two sample action plans The first is a plan you can follow if you havetwo months to prepare; the second assumes you have one month to prepare In general, the more timeyou can spend studying and practicing, the more likely you are to significantly improve your score So

if you’re still trying to decide when you need to get started, remember: the earlier the better You cantweak these plans to suit your own individual needs, or you can modify them to fit a two-week, six-week, or ten-week schedule

Sample Action Plan 1 — If You Have Two Months to Prepare

Two months is an adequate time for most people to prepare for the LSAT, but the time you’ll needdepends on how busy you are with school, work, or personal commitments and on how much of aneffort you’ll need to reach your target score

Week 1

Take the LSAT Diagnostic Test in Chapter 2 of this book It will help you get a sense of yourstarting point in preparing for the test and which problem-solving skills you need to work on Using the LSAC’s online law-school database, review the admissions criteria of the law

schools you’re most interested in Based on your undergraduate GPA, calculate the LSAT scoreyou need to get to make yourself competitive for admission to these law schools For more onhow to use this database, see Chapter 7

Visit LSAC.org’s “Shop for Prep Tools” page, which you can access at

https://os.lsac.org/Release/Shop/Publications.aspx, and order the volume entitled, “10 New

Actual LSAT PrepTests w/ Comparative Reading.” For $23.95, you’ll get 10 real LSATs youcan use for practice What’s more, the exams you’ll get were administered very recently

(between September 2007 and October 2010), so they are likely to be very similar to the examyou end up taking

Read the introduction and Cases 1 through 3 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments

Work all of the Conclusion, Deduction, and Principle questions in the Arguments sections in thePractice Tests at the back of this book Work them at your own pace, not under timed conditions.Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations to understandwhy you missed any questions you missed

Read the introduction, Case 1, and Case 2 in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension.

Week 2

Read the introduction and Cases 1 through 3 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games

Work all of the one-tiered ordering games and all of the grouping games in the Logic Gamessections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Work them at your own pace, not undertimed conditions Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations

to understand why you missed any questions you missed

Read Cases 3 through 9 in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension

Work the four passages in the Reading Comprehension section in Practice Test 1 at the back ofthis book Work them at your own pace, not under timed conditions Focus on implementing thetechniques correctly Study the answer explanations to understand why you missed any questionsyou missed

Week 3

Work the four passages in the Reading Comprehension section in Practice Test 2 at the back ofthis book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing the

techniques and studying the answer explanations

Read Case 4 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games

Work all of the two-tiered ordering games in the Logic Games sections in the Practice Tests atthe back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing the techniques and studying the answer explanations

Read Cases 4 through 7 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments

Work all of the Assumption, Strengthen, Paradox, and Weaken questions in the Arguments

sections in the Practice Tests at the back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with afocus on correctly implementing the techniques and studying the answer explanations

Week 4

Read Case 5 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games

Work all of the “1-2-2 or 1-1-3?” games in the Logic Games sections in the Practice Tests at theback of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementing thetechniques and studying the answer explanations

Read Cases 8 through 10 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments

Work all of the Describe and Flaw questions in the Arguments sections in the Practice Tests atthe back of this book Continue to work at your own pace with a focus on correctly implementingthe techniques and studying the answer explanations Based on your score on the diagnostic examand the success you’ve had in working the practice Arguments questions, make a preliminarydecision about whether it makes sense for you to attempt to work any Parallel questions If it

does, work all of the Parallel questions from the sample tests in the same manner.

Week 5

Catch up on any work you’ve fallen behind on

Read Case 6 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games

Read Case 11 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments

Read Case 10 in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension

Take Prep Test 58 as a timed, start-to-finish practice test

Work timed practice sections out of Prep Test 57

With both your practice test and your practice sections, analyze the questions that you answeredincorrectly Try to identify what made you select the answer you did and why you overlookedthe correct answer If you find that you are consistently missing the same kinds of questions, re-read the cases that address those questions

Week 6

Take Prep Test 59 as a timed, start-to-finish practice test

Work timed practice sections out of Prep Test 56 and 55

With both your practice test and your practice sections, analyze the questions that you answeredincorrectly Try to identify what made you select the answer you did and why you overlookedthe correct answer If you find that you are consistently missing the same kinds of questions, re-read the cases that address those questions

Week 7

Take Prep Test 60 as a timed, start-to-finish practice test

Work timed practice sections out of Prep Tests 54 and 53

With both your practice test and your practice sections, analyze the questions that you answeredincorrectly Try to identify what made you select the answer you did and why you overlookedthe correct answer If you find that you are consistently missing the same kinds of questions, re-read the cases that address those questions

Read Chapter 6, The LSAT Writing Sample

Write one or two practice Writing Sample essays

Week 8

Take Prep Test 61 as a timed, start-to-finish practice test

Work timed practice sections out of Prep Test 52 and the June 2007 test that is available online

With both your practice test and your practice sections, analyze the questions that you answeredincorrectly Try to identify what made you select the answer you did and why you overlookedthe correct answer If you find that you are consistently missing the same kinds of questions, re-read the case that addresses those questions.

Sample Action Plan 2 — If You Have One Month to Prepare

If you plan to master the LSAT in only four weeks, you’ll have to prioritize; focus on your

weaknesses and take as many practice tests as possible The more time and energy you can carveout for preparation, the better

Week 1

Take the LSAT Diagnostic Test in Chapter 2 of this book It will help you get a sense of yourstarting point in preparing for the test and which problem-solving skills you need to work on Using the LSAC’s online law-school database, review the admissions criteria of the law

schools you’re most interested in Based on your undergraduate GPA, calculate what LSATscore you need to obtain to make yourself competitive for admission to these law schools Formore on how to use this database, see Chapter 7

Read the introduction and Cases 1 through 5 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games

Work each of the games in the Logic Games section in Practice Test 1 at the back of this book.Classify each game by type before you work it Work the games at your own pace, not undertimed conditions Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations

to understand why you missed any questions you missed

Week 2

Read the introduction and Cases 1 through 10 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments

Work all of the arguments in the two Arguments sections in Practice Test 1 at the back of thisbook Classify each argument by type before you work it Work the questions at your own pace,not under timed conditions Focus on implementing the techniques correctly Study the answerexplanations to understand why you missed any questions you missed

Read the introduction and Cases 1 through 9 in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension

Work all of the passages in the Reading Comprehension section in Practice Test 1 at the back ofthis book Work the questions at your own pace, not under timed conditions Focus on

implementing the techniques correctly Study the answer explanations to understand why youmissed any questions you missed

Week 3

Read Case 6 in Chapter 3, LSAT Logic Games.

Read Case 11 in Chapter 4, LSAT Arguments

Read Case 10 in Chapter 5, LSAT Reading Comprehension

Work each of the sections in Practice Test 2 at the back of this book as timed practice sections.After you work each section, analyze the questions that you answered incorrectly Try to identifywhat made you select the answer you did and why you overlooked the correct answer If youfind that you are consistently missing the same kinds of questions, re-read the case that addressesthose questions

Read Chapter 6, The LSAT Writing Sample

Write one or two practice Writing Sample essays

Week 4

Work timed practice sections out of the June 2007 test that is available online

With both your practice test and your practice sections, analyze the questions that you answeredincorrectly Try to identify what made you select the answer you did and why you overlookedthe correct answer If you find that you are consistently missing the same kinds of questions, re-read the case that addresses those questions

CHECKLIST: LSAT Question Types and Solution Steps

Following is a list of all the LSAT question types, with quick summaries of the recommended

solution steps for each type The purpose of this page is to provide a handy, all-in-one, last-minutereminder of these valuable concepts Use this list to check your test readiness and make sure you’reprepared to do your best — and get your best score

Logic Games

One-Tiered Ordering Games

FACT PATTERN:asks you to arrange the elements of the game in sequential order, one at a time.

SOLUTION STEPS

1 Create a diagram with numbered slots

2 Symbolize each clue in a way that visually captures the logical relationship between the elements

3 Double check your symbolizations

4 Make deductions, with a special focus on “can’t be first or last” deductions and block-splittingdeductions

5 Answer the questions in the smartest order

3 Double check your symbolizations

4 Make deductions, with a special focus on deductions involving conditional clues (contrapositivesand conditional-combination deductions)

5 Answer the questions in the smartest order

Two-Tiered Ordering Games

FACT PATTERN:satisfies two of the following three criteria: (1) uses both grouping language andordering language; (2) requires you to assign exactly two elements to each group; and (3) the twoslots in each group are particularized

SOLUTION STEPS

1 Create a two-tiered diagram that labels each group (along the horizontal axis) and each slot in thegroup (along the vertical axis)

2 Symbolize each clue in way that visually captures the logical relationship between the elements

3 Double check your symbolizations

4 Make deductions All the major deduction types are in play, and two-tiered ordering games aretypically very fruitful on the deduction front

5 Answer the questions in the smartest order

2 Symbolize each clue in way that visually captures the logical relationship between the elements.

3 Double check your symbolizations

4 Make the group-size deduction that allows you to fully determine the size of each group Flesh outthe structure of your diagram based on this deduction

5 Make additional deductions All the major deduction types are in play

6 Answer the questions in the smartest order

Arguments

THE PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT

1 Conclusion: the main point, what the author is seeking to convince the reader of

2 Premises: the facts, evidence, and data offered in support of the conclusion

3 Assumptions: information that is important to the argument but explicitly articulated; unstatedpremises

6 Resolve a Paradox: Which answer choice helps to explain away an apparent inconsistency

between two statements in the argument?

7 Weaken the Argument: Which answer choice explains why the argument’s premises do notoffer very strong support for its conclusion?

8 Describe the Reasoning: Which answer choice correctly identifies each part of the argument andaccurately describes how those parts fit together?

9 Criticize the Reasoning: Which answer choice correctly identifies the fatal flaw in the

argument’s reasoning?

10 Parallel the Reasoning: Which answer choice employs the pattern of reasoning that is mostsimilar to the pattern of reasoning employed by the argument?

SOLUTION STEPS

1 Read the question and identify your task.

2 Read the argument with your task in mind

3 Know what you’re looking for before turning to the answer choices

4 Read every word of every answer choice

1 Main Idea: What is the main point of the passage as a whole?

2 Line ID: What is the meaning of a particular word or phrase, as used in the context of the

passage?

3 Information Retrieval: What did the passage state about a particular topic or factual detail?

4 Inference: Based on the information in the passage, what else is guaranteed to be true?

5 Tone: What is the author’s attitude toward a particular topic or factual detail discussed in thepassage?

6 Arguments-style: Which answer choice strengthens, weakens, or uses reasoning that is parallel

to a particular line of reasoning employed by the passage?

SOLUTION STEPS

1 Use the technique of annotative reading to read and annotate the passage

2 Read the question and identify your task

3 Go back to the passage to find the answer

4 Read every word of every answer choice

50 Top Strategies for Test Day

When it’s almost test day, and you’ve read this book and taken the practice tests, make sure youreview this section Here you’ll find 50 essential strategies that can definitely help you earn morepoints on the LSAT You’ll see longer explanations of each strategy, along with examples, in thereview portions of this book The purpose of these pages is to provide a handy, all-in-one, last-minute reminder of these valuable concepts Use this review to check your test readiness and makesure you’re prepared to do your best — and get your best score

General Test-Taking Strategies

Here are some general tips to help you maximize your LSAT score on test day

RELAX

1 Don’t panic if you are having a hard time answering the questions! You do not have to answerall of the questions correctly to get a good score.

2 Take a few moments to relax if you get stressed during the test When you get back to the test,you will feel better

3 If you come to a particularly difficult question, skip it for now Be sure to mark it so that youcan return to it later

4 Stay focused Ignore the things going on around you that you cannot control

BE AWARE OF TIME

5 Pace yourself Budget enough time for each question so that you won’t have to rush at the end ofthe section

6 Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked Taking the time to

answer one question correctly is better than rushing and answering several questions

incorrectly

GUESS CAREFULLY

7 You lose nothing for a wrong answer, so mark an answer for every question

8 Before you guess, eliminate answer choices that you know are wrong The more you can

eliminate, the better your chance of getting the question right

YOUR ANSWER SHEET

9 If you are skipping around within the section, be careful that you bubble in your answers in thecorrect spots

10 When you work a logic game or reading passage, unless time is almost up, work the entiregame or passage in your booklet and then bubble in all the questions on your answer sheet atonce

Strategies for Each Question Type

Here are tips to help you do your best on each of the different LSAT question types

LOGIC GAMES

11 Scan the set-up and the clues of all four games Rank the games in order of difficulty Work the

easier games first.

12 Read the set-up and the clues carefully and classify the game by type

13 Begin your diagram and write down a list of all the elements

14 Symbolize each clue

15 Double check your symbolizations

16 Make deductions

17 Answer the complete-and-accurate-list question

18 Answer all questions that give you additional information

19 Answer the remaining questions

ARGUMENTS

20 Work the questions in each section in order The questions should generally go from less

difficult to more difficult

21 Read the question first and identify the task

22 Read the argument with your task in mind Identify the parts of the argument as you read

23 Before turning to the answer choices, articulate to yourself the kind of answer choice you’relooking for

24 On a Conclusion question, look for an accurate restatement of the argument’s main point

25 On a Deduction question, look for a factual statement that must be true based on the content ofthe argument

26 On a Principle question, use the parse-and-match method to identify a principle that accountsfor each factual component of the argument and the logical relationship between those

premises, or rules out reverse causation

29 On a Paradox question, look for a new fact, consideration, or interpretation that explains away

the seeming contradiction between the two sides of the argument.

30 On a Weaken question, look for a statement that shows that the facts, data, or evidence

contained in the premises do not actually support the theory, explanation, prediction, or

solution offered by the conclusion

31 On a Describe question, use the parse-and-match method to identify an answer choice whosecomponents correspond to each part of the argument

32 On a Flaw question, look for the answer choice that correctly describes the flaw in the

argument’s reasoning

33 On a Parallel question, look for the answer choice that employs the same pattern of reasoning

as the argument

READING COMPREHENSION

34 Briefly scan through the four passages and rank them in order of difficulty

35 Work the easier passages first

36 Use the technique of annotative reading to read the passage

37 Use your upfront reading of the passage to understand the main point of the passage and mapthe location of the details

38 Create a summary of the passage by identifying the main point of each paragraph and usingindicator words to ascertain the logical relationship between those paragraphs

39 Use a personalized system of annotations to mark the locations of key factual details Usedifferent annotations to mark different kinds of information.

40 Go back to the passage and find the answer to every question Do not rely on your recall

41 On Main Idea questions, use the summary you created of the passage to zero in on the

passage’s main point

42 On Line ID questions, read several lines above and below the line identified in the question toget a full sense of context, meaning, and purpose

43 On Information Retrieval questions, use your annotations to find the location of the factualdetail that is the subject of the question

44 On Inference questions, review the relevant portion of the passage and then look for either anecessary-implication inference or a detail-combination inference

45 On tone questions, return to the passage and describe the valence, intensity, and content of thediscussion that is the subject of the question

46 Use the techniques you learned in Chapter 4 to approach Arguments-style questions

47 On the comparative-reading passage, during your upfront reading you should pay special

attention to the similarities and areas of overlap between the two passages

Essential LSAT Vocabulary

The LSAT is a unique test, with its own set of rules and logic To help you conquer it, here is a list ofessential terms that you need to be familiar with for the Logic Games and Arguments sections

Essential Logic Games VocabularyBlock Clue: A clue in an ordering game that requires two elements to be placed in consecutive slots Block-Splitting Deduction: A deduction in an ordering game that is based on the principle that you

cannot place any non-blocked, single element in a location that makes it impossible to place all of theblocked, consecutive elements

“Can’t Be First or Last” Deduction: A deduction in an ordering game that is based on the principle

that an element cannot be first if the clues require one or more other elements to come before it, and

an element cannot be last if the clues require one or more other elements to come after it

Clues: The rules, conditions, and constraints that organize the elements and define and limit the ways

in which you can use the elements to perform the task you’re assigned in the set up The clues appear

in a list underneath the set up

Conditional Statement: A statement in the form of “If A, then B,” such as, “If something is an apple,

then it is a piece of fruit.”

Conditional-Combination Deductions: A deduction that results from the combination of two

conditional statements

Contrapositive: The standard deduction that is supported by every conditional statement “If not B,

then not A” is the contrapositive of the conditional statement, “If A, then B.”

Deductions: A rule, condition, or constraint about a game that can be derived by combining the

information contained in two or more clues

Diagram: A chart or drawing that is a visually accurate representation of the logical relationship

between the elements of a game

Down-to-Two Deductions: A deduction that tells you that a particular slot in the game must be filled

by one or the other of two elements

Grouping Game: A game that requires you to divide up the elements of the game among two or more

groups, bins, or teams

Group-Size Deduction: A deduction made in a “1-2-2 or 1 -1 -3?” game that enables you to

determine the limited number of ways in which the elements may be distributed among the groups

One-Tiered Ordering Game: A game that requires you to put a series of elements in sequential

order

“1 -2-2 or 1 -1 -3?” Game: A game that involves both ordering and grouping, but requires you to

determine as part of the game (instead of dictating in the set up) the number of elements assigned toeach group

Repeated-Element Deductions: A deduction about an element that appears in multiple clues that is

made by combining the information contained in all of the clues in which the element appears.

Set-up: The fact pattern of the game that provides and explains the basic information you’ll be

working with in the game That basic information consists of a list of elements and a task to performwith those elements

Two-Tiered Ordering Game: A game that satisfies two of the following three criteria: (1) uses both

grouping language and ordering language; (2) requires you to assign exactly two elements to eachgroup; and (3) the two slots in each group are particularized

Essential Arguments Vocabulary

Ad Hominem Attack: A fallacious attempt to discredit an argument by making personal attacksagainst the person advancing the argument instead of making logical attacks against the content of theargument

Assumption: An unstated premise, a fact or piece of evidence that is not listed as part of the

argument’s support but on which the argument nonetheless relies

Conclusion: The argument’s main point, opinion, point of view, or explanation that the argument is

trying to convince you is true

Conclusion Indicator: A word such as thusor therefore,whose presence at the beginning of the

sentence indicates that the sentence likely serves as the conclusion of an argument

Conditional Statement: A statement in the form of “If A, then B,” such as, “If something is an apple,

then it is a piece of fruit.”

Contrapositive: The statement that is the logical equivalent of a conditional statement “If not B, then

not A” is the contrapositive of the conditional statement, “If A, then B.”

Fallacy: An invalid form of argument Such arguments are described as fallacious.

Indicator Words: Words that appear at the beginnings of sentences whose presence is a sign that the

sentence serves a particular logical function

Intermediate Conclusion: A statement that functions both as the conclusion of one argument and as a

premise of a second argument, offered in support of a main or ultimate conclusion Also called asubsidiary conclusion

Necessary Condition: A condition whose absence forecloses a particular outcome from being

obtained A necessary condition is a deal-breaker

Premises: The reasons, facts, or pieces of evidence that are offered in support of the truth of an

argument’s conclusion

Premise Indicator: A word such as sinceor because,whose presence at the beginning of the sentence

indicates that the sentence likely serves as a premise in an argument.

Straw Man: A fallacious attempt to respond to or discredit an opposing position by misrepresenting

the content of that position

Sufficient Condition: A condition whose presence guarantees that a particular outcome will be

contained A sufficient condition is a deal-maker

Transition Indicator: A word such as butor yet, whose presence at the beginning of a sentence

indicates that the sentence is a turning point in the logic, tone, or content of the argument in which thesentence appears

Getting the Most from the MediaDownload and

the Free Online Practice Tests and Videos

Downloading the Practice Tests

Go to www.mhprofessional.com/mediacenter Enter the e-book ISBN (0071819436) and follow theinstructions Click on the LSAT logo in the downloaded files The program will automatically install

An icon showing the book cover will appear on your desktop You can click on that icon to start theprogram

Accessing the Online Practice Tests and Videos

Visit MHPracticePlus.com/LSAT for your free access to additional complete LSAT practice tests

and problem-solving videos At the website, click on the words “LSAT Center.” (Again, if you

bought the enhanced e-book, you already have the videos.)

Taking the Tests

You will then be shown the View Instructions screen or screens for that test section Those

screens present the directions for each question type and example questions When you close the

View Instructions screen, the first question will appear.

Answering Questions

To answer questions, click on the answer circle beside the letter of your choice At the bottom rightcorner of the screen you will see a note such as “2 of 20,” telling you how many questions are in thesection and which question you are answering After answering each question, click on one of the twoarrows at either side of that note to go to the next or previous question.

At any time, you may roll your cursor over the Question Status at the bottom left corner of the

screen to see the total number of questions in the section and which ones you have answered or notanswered

Menu Options

Roll your cursor over the Menu to see these choices:

Exit Program: Choose this option if you wish to exit the program entirely If you relaunch theprogram, you can complete the section that you exited or restart it from the beginning

Score and Exit Section: You may choose this option at any time You will get a new dialoguebox that will tell how many questions in the section you answered correctly and allow you to

review the questions, your answers, the correct responses, and the explanations

Save and Exit Section: This option takes you back to the Main Menu Your work will be saved,and later you can complete or restart the section that you exited

View Instructions: Choose this option if you wish to see again the instructions for the questiontype(s) in the section in which you are currently working

Scoring the Practice Tests

After you answer the last question in a section, if you have not answered all of the preceding

questions, you will be prompted to roll your cursor over the Question Status button to see which

ones you have not answered You can then return to them and answer them if you wish Then return tothe final question in the section

You will then be asked if you wish to score and exit the section If you click “Score and Exit,”you will see a new dialogue box that will tell you how many of the questions in the section youanswered correctly You will then be asked, “Would you like to review the section now?” If youclick “yes,” the questions will appear one by one on the screen as shown at right.

There will be an “X” next to every incorrect answer and a “+” next to every correct answer Foreach question, you will also see an inset panel with the explanation (“rationale”) for the correctanswer You may then navigate away or close the program

Viewing the Problem-Solving Videos

Whether you access the videos at the LSAT Center on the companion website or have them embedded

in your enhanced e-book, you will see a selection of short videos In each one, an LSAT coach

demonstrates how to use one of the problem-solving strategies in this book to answer a typical LSATquestion Click on a video to begin

Each video begins by showing an LSAT question chosen specifically to demonstrate a solving strategy You will hear the LSAT coach explain the solution process step by step, and as youlisten, you will see each step appear on screen By the end of the video, you should be able to

problem-understand how to use the problem-solving strategy and how to apply it on your own to problems youencounter on the exam

Copyright © 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education, LLC All rights reserved Except as permitted underthe United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed

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To obtain material from the disk that accompanies the printed version of this eBook, please click

here

PART I All About the LSAT

CHAPTER 1 Introducing the LSAT

Test Dates and Registration Information The Format of the LSAT

How the LSAT Is Scored

A Brief Introduction to the LSAT’s Four Sections How to Approach Test Day

Obtaining or Cancelling Your Score

CHAPTER 2 LSAT Diagnostic Test

Section I Section II Section III Section IV LSAT Diagnostic Test Answer Key Calculate Your Score

Your Approximate Scaled Score LSAT Diagnostic Test Answers and Explanations

Section I

Section II

Section III

Section IV

CHAPTER 3 LSAT Logic Games

Case 1 One-Tiered Ordering Games: Emily Walks the Dogs Case 2 Working with Conditional Statements

Case 3 Grouping Games: Ralph Hosts a Dinner Party Case 4 Two-Tiered Ordering Games: Trudy Picks Her Course Schedule Case 5 “1-2-2 or 1-1-3?” Games: A Bellman Carries Bags

Case 6 Section-Wide Strategy

CHAPTER 4 LSAT Arguments

Case 1 What’s the Point? Identify the Conclusion Case 2 What Do I Know for Sure? Make a Deduction Case 3 From General to Specific One Step at a Time: Apply a Principle

Case 4 Bridging the Gap: Identify an Assumption Case 5 Causes, Explanations, and Predictions: Strengthen the Argument Case 6 Now, Why Would That Be? Resolve a Paradox

Case 7 Reading with a Skeptic’s Eye: Weaken the Argument Case 8 Taking a Step Back: Describe the Reasoning

Case 9 Finding a Flaw: Criticize the Reasoning Case 10 Mapping for Similarity: Parallel the Reasoning Case 11 Section-Wide Strategy

CHAPTER 5 LSAT Reading Comprehension

Case 1 Retrieval, Not Recall: How to Read on the LSAT Case 2 The Mechanics of Annotative Reading

Case 3 Main Idea Questions Case 4 Line ID Questions Case 5 Information Retrieval Questions Case 6 Inference Questions

Case 7 Tone Questions Case 8 Arguments-Style Questions Case 9 The Comparative Reading Passage Case 10 Section-Wide Strategy

CHAPTER 6 The LSAT Writing Sample

Case 1 The Five-Paragraph Model Case 2 Eight Principles of Good Writing

CHAPTER 7 Applying to Law School

The Financial Reality of Getting a JD Choosing Which Law Schools to Apply To Guide to the Admissions Process

PART II LSAT Practice Tests

LSAT PRACTICE TEST 1

Section I Section II Section III Section IV LSAT Practice Test 1 Answer Key Calculate Your Score

Your Approximate Scaled Score

LSAT Practice Test 1 Answers and Explanations

LSAT Practice Test 2 Answer Key

Calculate Your Score

Your Approximate Scaled Score

LSAT Practice Test 2 Answers and Explanations

Section I

Section II

Section III

Section IV

PART I

All About the LSAT

CHAPTER 1

Introducing the LSAT

In this chapter, you will learn:

Why you should use this book to prepare for the LSAT

How to register for the LSAT

The format of the LSAT and how it is scored

Basic information about each of the four sections on the LSAT

How to approach test day

Welcome to McGraw-Hill’s LSAT If you’ve already purchased this book, congratulations! You’ve

made the right choice Success on the Law School Admission Test is a critical component of a stronglaw school application The LSAT is a prerequisite for admission to all law schools that are

accredited by the American Bar Association and to many law schools that are not ABA-accreditedbut are accredited by a state bar association (most notably the California Bar Association) The tools,techniques, and strategies you’ll learn in this book will enable you to maximize your LSAT score,including:

Proven tactics from veteran teachers The authors have more than a decade of combined LSAT

experience as classroom teachers, private tutors, curriculum developers, and prep-book authors.These techniques have been honed through years of practice in the field

A curriculum based on exhaustive research and analysis Four different LSATs are administered

every year Three of those four exams are released to the public As a result, more than 60 LSATsare now available to the general public for practice and review The content and techniques in thisbook were developed based on a comprehensive review of thousands of the questions that haveappeared on these real tests

Updated techniques to reflect a changing test The LSAT is a dynamic test that evolves over

time Each year, new question types crop up while old question types fall by the wayside Thecurriculum in this book has been written with a particular emphasis on capturing the newly

emergent trends in the 15 publicly available tests that were administered between 2006 and 2010.We’ve developed techniques that will help you stay ahead of the curve on these new question

types

A unique, casebook-style instructional approach Casebooks and the case-based model of

instruction are the backbone of the law school curriculum This book is the only LSAT-prep book

on the market that is written as a casebook Major question types and key strategies and techniquesare presented as separate cases for study This model will help you organize your studying andmake important material easier to digest and remember