September 2017 LSAT Section 3 Question 13

Each of the following is an example of the kind of native language radio programming advocated by the author in the f...

Mazen on June 12, 2022

Criteria for Selecting the Correct Answer, Please

Hi, I headed into the answer-choices looking for the one that is "not necessarily true" or "could be false." I did not dive into the answer-choices looking for an answer-choice that "cannot be true," or "must be false." My reasoning is this: Since the question is a "must be true, except," four of the wrong answer-choice "must be true," and the correct one would "not necessarily be true," or "could be false." And so my question concerns a standard way to approach selecting the correct answer-choice in the event that the LSAT writers include two answers, one that is "not necessarily true," and another that "cannot be true." This is not the case here inn question 13, but in such circumstances, which one do the LSAT writers consider the correct answer? The correct-answer choice in this question is not one that "could be false," but rather one that "must be false," or cannot be true." This is made abundantly clear by the fact that the author of the passage includes answer-choice D's elements under "ineffective programming." Broadly speaking, clearly, there is a distinction between something that is "not necessarily true," or "could be false," and another that "cannot be true," or "must be false." It is equally obvious that this question did not care for the difference between "not necessarily true" and "cannot be true." Stated in terms of false, the authors of this LSAT question did not care for the difference between "could be false" and "must be false." In retrospect, would an LSAT expert please recall, an identical question-type for which there are two answer-choices, an answer-choice that "is not necessarily true" ("could be false") and another that "cannot be true" ("must be false"). And if so, which one of these answer-choices, did the LSAT writers count as the correct one? Am I wrong to look for an answer that is "not necessarily true"? I want o be absolutely clear about what I am asking-- Logic dictates that an exception to a "must be true" is a "not necessarily true." Logic further posits a distinction between something being "not necessarily true" an another that "cannot be true." Mathematically/logically reasoning, a "cannot be true" instance is within the range of a "not necessarily true." That is because, a "not necessarily true" answer ranges from 0% to 49.999%, and "cannot be true" answer is indexed to the 0%, hence within the range of the "not necessarily true." And if the "cannot be true" answer is provided within the five answer-choices WITHOUT one that "cannot be true," I have no problem picking it! My concern is, however, is there an LSAT instance when the five answer-choices includes one that is "not necessarily true," and another that "cannot be true," and if so which which should we select? Thank you immensely for whoever takes on this concern! (I hope that we never have to deal with this distinction). Mazen

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Mazen on June 12, 2022

Hi,

I headed into the answer-choices looking for the one that is "not necessarily true" or "could be false." I did not dive into the answer-choices looking for an answer-choice that "cannot be true," or "must be false."

My reasoning is this: Since the question is a "must be true, except," four of the wrong answer-choice are "must be true," and the correct one "is not necessarily be true," or "could be false."

And so my question concerns a standard way to approach selecting the correct answer-choice in the event that the LSAT writers include two answers, one that "is not necessarily true," and another that "cannot be true." This is not the case here in question 13, but in such circumstances, which one do the LSAT writers consider the correct answer?

The correct-answer choice in this question is not one that "could be false," but rather one that "must be false," or cannot be true." This is made abundantly clear by the fact that the author of the passage includes answer-choice D's elements under "ineffective programming."

Broadly speaking, clearly, there is a distinction between saying this "is not necessarily true," or "could be false," and saying this "cannot be true," or "must be false."

It is equally obvious that this question did not care for the difference between "not necessarily true" and "cannot be true." Or in other words, stated in terms of "false," the authors of this LSAT question did not care for the difference between "could be false" and "must be false."

In retrospect, would an LSAT expert please recall, an identical question-type for which two answer-choices are provided, an answer-choice that "is not necessarily true" ("could be false") and another that "cannot be true" ("must be false"). And if so, which one of these answer-choices did the LSAT writers count as the correct one?

I want to be absolutely clear about what I am asking --

Logic dictates that an exception to a "must be true" is a "not necessarily true." Logic further posits a distinction between something being "not necessarily true" and it being "cannot be true."

Mathematically/logically reasoning, a "cannot be true" instance is within the range of a "not necessarily true." That is because, a "not necessarily true" answer ranges from 0% to 49.999...%, and a "cannot be true" answer is indexed to the 0%, hence within the range of the "not necessarily true." I understand that!

And if the "cannot be true" answer is provided within the five answer-choices WITHOUT another* answer-choice that "is not necessarily true*," I have no problem picking the "cannot be true*"!

My concern, however, is: when there an LSAT "must be true...except" instance for which five answer-choices are provided and two of the five are "not necessarily true," and "cannot be true," under such circumstance (has there ever been such a circumstance?) which one should we select?

Am I wrong to look for an answer that is "not necessarily true"?

Thank you immensely for whoever takes on this concern!

Mazen

jakennedy on June 12, 2022

Hi @Mazen,

Good question. Fortunately, what you described is not possible. Both a “not necessarily true” answer choice and a “cannot be true” answer choice would be correct in a Must be True EXCEPT question, and an LSAT question cannot have two correct answer choices.

Mazen on June 13, 2022

Hi Jacob,

"Fortunately," indeed!!!!

I often find myself spending a lot of time on the "what ifs." Peace of mind as to this possible scenario, "cannot be true" versus "not necessarily true" for a "must be true, except-" question!

Thank You Sir
Mazen