LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if all of them are true, is LEAST helpful in establishing that the conclusion above is properly drawn? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's break down the argument in the passage. The passage presents the results of a study comparing two groups of people, Group A (65-75 years old) and Group B (college students), on their ability to remember to make a phone call at a specified time. The results show that Group A performed better than Group B, with fewer lapses. Based on these findings, the author concludes that at least one type of memory does not decline with age.

The structure of the argument is as follows:

- Premise: Group A (older individuals) performed better than Group B (college students) in remembering to make a phone call at a specified time.

- Conclusion: At least one type of memory does not suffer as a person ages.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Were the conditions of the study fair and consistent for both groups?"

The question type for this problem is Strengthen Except, meaning we're looking for the answer choice that does not help support the conclusion that at least one type of memory does not decline with age.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) There was the same number of people in each group.

This strengthens the argument by ensuring that the comparison between the two groups is fair and not skewed by differences in group size.

b) The same group of researchers answered the calls made by the callers in both study groups.

This answer choice does not strengthen the argument, as it does not relate to the conditions of the study or the participants' ability to remember. It focuses on the researchers answering the calls, which is not relevant to the conclusion. This is the correct answer choice.

c) Among the college students there were no persons more than forty years old.

This strengthens the argument by confirming that the college students were indeed younger than the older group, ensuring a valid comparison between the two age groups.

d) Both groups had unrestricted access to telephones for making the required calls.

This strengthens the argument by ensuring that both groups had equal opportunities to complete the task, making the comparison between their performances more valid.

e) The members of the two groups received their instructions approximately the same amount of time before they were to make their telephone calls.

This strengthens the argument by ensuring that both groups had the same amount of time to remember the task, making the comparison between their performances more valid.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (b), as it is the least helpful in establishing that the conclusion is properly drawn.