LSAC LSAT-TEST Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

LSAC LSAT-TEST Online Questions & Answers

• Question 181:

  Most scientists who study the physiological effects of alcoholic beverages have assumed that wine, like beer or distilled spirits, is a drink whose only active ingredient is alcohol. Because of this assumption, these scientists have rarely investigated the effects of wine as distinct from other forms of alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, unlike other alcoholic beverages, wine has for centuries been thought to have healthful effects that these scientists ?who not only make no distinction among wine, beer, and distilled spirits but also study only the excessive or abusive intake of these beverages ?have obscured.

  Recently, a small group of researchers has questioned this assumption and investigated the effects of moderate wine consumption. While alcohol has been shown conclusively to have negative physiological effects ?for example, alcohol strongly affects the body's processing of lipids (fats and other substances including cholesterol), causing dangerous increases in the levels of these substances in the blood, increases that are a large contributing factor in the development of premature heart disease ?the researchers found that absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream occurs much more slowly when subjects drink wine than when they drink distilled spirits. More remarkably, it was discovered that deaths due to premature heart disease in the populations of several European countries decreased dramatically as the incidence of moderate wine consumption increased. One preliminary study linked this effect to red wine, but subsequent research has shown identical results whether the wine was white or red. What could explain such apparently healthful effects?

  For one thing, the studies show increased activity of a natural clot-breaking compound used by doctors to restore blood flow through blocked vessels in victims of heart disease. In addition, the studies of wine drinkers indicate increased levels of certain compounds that may help to prevent damage from high lipid levels. And although the link between lipid processing and premature heart disease is one of the most important discoveries in modern medicine, in the past 20 years researchers have found several additional important contributing factors. We now know that endothelial cell reactivity (which affects the thickness of the innermost walls of blood vessels) and platelet adhesiveness (which influences the degree to which platelets cause blood to clot) are each linked to the development of premature heart disease. Studies show that wine appears to have ameliorating effects on both of these factors: it decreases the thickness of the innermost walls of blood vessels, and it reduces platelet adhesiveness. One study demonstrated a decrease in platelet adhesiveness among individuals who drank large amounts of grape juice. This finding may be the first step in confirming speculation that the potentially healthful effects of moderate wine intake may derive from the concentration of certain natural compounds found in grapes and not present in other alcoholic beverages.

  According to the passage, each of the following might help to prevent premature heart disease EXCEPT:

  A. an increase in the degree to which platelets cause blood to clot
  B. an increase in the body's ability to remove lipids from the bloodstream
  C. an increase in the amount of time it takes alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream
  D. increased activity of a natural compound that reduces blood clotting
  E. increased levels of compounds that prevent damage from high lipid levels
  A. an increase in the degree to which platelets cause blood to clot

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  For this Detail question, we must either eliminate the four factors that the author cites as possibly preventing premature heart disease, or find the odd-man-out. (Either way, we win.) The most popular approach is to find one such factor in the passage, and then search for it among the choices. (You know four of them will be there!) Helping us here is the phrase "premature heart disease," a Buzzword phrase that appears several times in 2 and 3, suggesting that details from both s will be fertile ground for the 4 preventative factors.

• Question 182:

  Mount Vesuvius, a volcano located between the ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, has received much attention because of its frequent and destructive eruptions. The most famous of these eruptions occurred in A. D. 79. The volcano had been inactive for centuries. There was little warning of the coming eruption, although one account unearthed by archaeologists says that a hard rain and a strong wind had disturbed the celestial calm during the preceding night. Early the next morning, the volcano poured a huge river of molten rock down upon Herculaneum, completely burying the city and filling in the harbor with coagulated lava. Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, cinders, stone and ash rained down on Pompeii. Sparks from the burning ash ignited the combustible rooftops quickly. Large portions of the city were destroyed in the conflagration. Fire, however, was not the only cause of destruction. Poisonous sulphuric gases saturated the air. These heavy gases were not buoyant in the atmosphere and therefore sank toward the earth and suffocated people. Over the years, excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum have revealed a great deal about the behavior of the volcano. By analyzing data, much as a zoologist dissects a specimen animal, scientist have concluded that the eruption changed large portions of the area's geography. For instance, it turned the Sarno River from its course and raised the level of the beach along the Bay of Naples. Meteorologists studying these events have also concluded that Vesuvius caused a huge tidal wave that affected the world's climate. In addition to making these investigations, archaeologists have been able to study the skeletons of victims by using distilled water to wash away the volcanic ash. By strengthening the brittle bones with acrylic paint, scientists have been able to examine the skeletons and draw conclusions about the diet and habits of the residents. Finally, the excavations at both Pompeii and Herculaneum have yielded many examples of classical art, such as jewelry made of bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its tragic consequences have provided us with a wealth of data about the effects that volcanoes can have on the surrounding area. Today volcanologists can locate and predict eruptions, saving lives and preventing the destruction of cities and cultures.

  _____________ have concluded that the volcanic eruption caused a tidal wave.

  A. Scientist who study oceans
  B. Scientist who study atmospheric conditions
  C. Scientist who study ash
  D. Scientist who study animal behavior
  E. Answer not available in article
  B. Scientist who study atmospheric conditions

• Question 183:

  A chess tournament is occurring in the local community school, and the players at all four of the tables are engaged in their fourth game against their prospective opponents.

  The players with white pieces are: David, Gerry, Lenny and Terry

  The players with black pieces are: Don, Mike, Richie and Stephen

  The scores are 3:0, 2.5:0.5, 2:1, 1.5:1.5

  [note: tied games result in a score of 0.5 points for each player]

  Lenny is playing at the table to the right of Stephen, who has lost all of his games until now.

  Gerry is playing against Mike.

  At least one game at table 1 has resulted in a tie.

  Richie, who is not in the lead over his opponent, has not been in a tied game.

  The player who is using the white pieces at table 4 is Terry, however, the current score at table 4 is not 2:1.

  Don is leading his match after his last three games.

  What table is Stephen playing at, and what is the score at that table?

  A. Table 1, 2.5:1.5
  B. Table 1, 3:0
  C. Table 2, 3:0
  D. Table 2, 2.5:1.5
  E. Table 3, 2:1
  C. Table 2, 3:0

• Question 184:

  Most scientists who study the physiological effects of alcoholic beverages have assumed that wine, like beer or distilled spirits, is a drink whose only active ingredient is alcohol. Because of this assumption, these scientists have rarely investigated the effects of wine as distinct from other forms of alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, unlike other alcoholic beverages, wine has for centuries been thought to have healthful effects that these scientists ?who not only make no distinction among wine, beer, and distilled spirits but also study only the excessive or abusive intake of these beverages ?have obscured.

  Recently, a small group of researchers has questioned this assumption and investigated the effects of moderate wine consumption. While alcohol has been shown conclusively to have negative physiological effects ?for example, alcohol strongly affects the body's processing of lipids (fats and other substances including cholesterol), causing dangerous increases in the levels of these substances in the blood, increases that are a large contributing factor in the development of premature heart disease ?the researchers found that absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream occurs much more slowly when subjects drink wine than when they drink distilled spirits. More remarkably, it was discovered that deaths due to premature heart disease in the populations of several European countries decreased dramatically as the incidence of moderate wine consumption increased. One preliminary study linked this effect to red wine, but subsequent research has shown identical results whether the wine was white or red. What could explain such apparently healthful effects?

  For one thing, the studies show increased activity of a natural clot-breaking compound used by doctors to restore blood flow through blocked vessels in victims of heart disease. In addition, the studies of wine drinkers indicate increased levels of certain compounds that may help to prevent damage from high lipid levels. And although the link between lipid processing and premature heart disease is one of the most important discoveries in modern medicine, in the past 20 years researchers have found several additional important contributing factors. We now know that endothelial cell reactivity (which affects the thickness of the innermost walls of blood vessels) and platelet adhesiveness (which influences the degree to which platelets cause blood to clot) are each linked to the development of premature heart disease. Studies show that wine appears to have ameliorating effects on both of these factors: it decreases the thickness of the innermost walls of blood vessels, and it reduces platelet adhesiveness. One study demonstrated a decrease in platelet adhesiveness among individuals who drank large amounts of grape juice. This finding may be the first step in confirming speculation that the potentially healthful effects of moderate wine intake may derive from the concentration of certain natural compounds found in grapes and not present in other alcoholic beverages.

  Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the passage's position concerning the apparently healthful effects of moderate wine consumption?

  A. Subjects who consumed large amounts of grape juice exhibited decreased thickness of the innermost walls of their blood vessels.
  B. Subjects who were habitual drinkers of wine and subjects who were habitual drinkers of beer exhibited similar lipid levels in their bloodstreams.
  C. Subjects who drank grape juice exhibited greater platelet adhesiveness than did subjects who drank no grape juice.
  D. Subjects who drank excessive amounts of wine suffered from premature heart disease at roughly the same rate as moderate wine drinkers.
  E. Subjects who possess a natural clot-breaking compound were discovered to have a certain gene that is absent from subjects who do not possess the compound.
  A. Subjects who consumed large amounts of grape juice exhibited decreased thickness of the innermost walls of their blood vessels.

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  Strengthening the argument would involve any number of connections between the various properties of wine and their healthful effects on the heart. But canny examinees might guess that the right answer here probably will revolve around the single biggest factor, the one that helps the author end on such an up note, namely the "certain natural compounds" found in grapes. The association of large amounts of grape juice with thinner blood vessel walls as being beneficial to the heart ?would reinforce the exciting new prospect that it's the stuff in wine grapes, rather than in alcohol per se, that explains the benefits of moderate wine consumption.

• Question 185:

  When using a metal file, always remember to bear down on the forward stroke only. On the return stroke, lift the file clear of the surface to avoid dulling the instrument's teeth. Only when working on very soft metals is it advisable to drag the file's teeth slightly on the return stroke. This helps clear out metal pieces from between the teeth. It is best to bear down just hard enough to keep the file cutting at all times. Too little pressure uses only the tips of the teeth; too much pressure can chip the teeth. Move the file in straight lines across the surface. Use a vice to grip the work so that your hands are free to hold the file. Protect your hands by equipping the file with a handle. Buy a wooden handle and install it by inserting the pointed end of the file into the handle hole.

  These directions show you how to

  A. work with a hammer
  B. use a file
  C. polish a file
  D. oil a vise
  E. repair shop tools
  B. use a file

• Question 186:

  Of the eight students -- George, Helen, Irving, Kyle, Lenore, Nina, Olivia, and Robert -- in a seminar, exactly six will give individual oral reports during three consecutive days -- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Exactly two reports will be

  given each day -- one in the morning and one in the afternoon -- according to the following conditions:

  Tuesday is the only day on which George can give a report.

  Neither Olivia nor Robert can give an afternoon report. If Nina gives a report, then on the next day Helen and Irving must both give reports, unless Nina's report is given on Wednesday.

  If Kyle gives the afternoon report on Tuesday, and Helen gives the afternoon report on Wednesday, which one of the following could be the list of the students who give the morning reports on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively?

  A. Irving, Lenore, and Nina
  B. Lenore, George, and Irving
  C. Nina, Irving, and Lenore
  D. Robert, George, and Irving
  E. Robert, Irving, and Lenore
  D. Robert, George, and Irving

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  The question is: Which of the five choices is a possible listing of the morning folks? First, we ought to skim for the obvious rule violators, and option [Nina, Irving, and Lenore] can therefore be quickly eliminated: Nina cannot take Monday here because we cannot have "Helen + Irving" on Tuesday (Rule 3). Next, work with the choices.

• Question 187:

  Thurgood Marshall's litigation of Brown v. Board of Education in 1952 ?the landmark case, decided in 1954, that made segregation illegal in United States public schools ?was not his first case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Some legal scholars claim that the cases he presented to the court in the sixteen years before his successful argument for desegregation of public schools were necessary forerunners of that case: preliminary tests of legal strategies and early erosions of the foundations of discrimination against African Americans that paved the way for success in Brown.

  When Marshall joined the legal staff of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1936, the organization was divided on how to proceed against the legal doctrine that for forty years had promoted "separate but equal" facilities for African Americans in educational institutions, in public transportation, and various other civic amenities. One approach was to emphasize that facilities were not in fact equal and to pursue litigation whose practical goal was the improvement both of opportunity for African Americans and of the facilities themselves. A second, more theoretical, approach was to argue that the concept of separate but equal facilities for the races was by its very nature impossible to fulfill, rendering the doctrine self-contradictory and hence legally unsound. Marshall correctly believed that the latter approach would eventually be the one to bring repeal of the doctrine, but felt it necessary in the short term to argue several cases using the former approach, in order to demonstrate the numerous ways in which segregation prevented real equality and thus to prepare the courts to recognize the validity of the theoretical argument.

  While Marshall enjoyed several successes arguing for the equalization of facilities and opportunities in such areas as voting practices and accommodations for graduate students at public universities, it would be twelve years before he evolved a strategy for arguing against pervasive discriminatory practices that enabled him to make the leap from individual instances of inequality to the broader social argument needed to later invalidate "separate but equal." In 1948, Marshall litigated Shelley v. Kraemer, in which he convinced the court to outlaw housing discrimination practiced by private parties. Although the court had previously supported such practices implicitly under a doctrine that excused private dealings from the legal requirement for equal protection of citizens under law, Marshall presented sociological data demonstrating that, in sum and over time, these individual transactions constituted a pattern of insupportable discrimination. Marshall later used this strategy when arguing against individual schools' enrollment restrictions in Brown; scholars argue that his successful use of the strategy in Shelley prepared the court to accept such data as convincing evidence for finding "separate but equal" insupportable on its face.

  The passage suggests that the scholars referred to in the passage would be most likely to believe which one of the following statements?

  A. Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer, the court would probably have overturned "separate but equal" for political reasons.
  B. Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer, the court would probably not have ruled in his favor on Brown v. Board of Education.
  C. Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer, the court would probably not have excused private dealings from the legal requirement for equal protection of citizens under law.
  D. Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer, the court would probably never have relied on sociological data in any future cases.
  E. Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer, the court would probably have overturned discriminatory housing transactions on other grounds
  B. Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer, the court would probably not have ruled in his favor on Brown v. Board of Education.

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  "Inference" must spring to mind when one sees "the passage suggests" and "most likely to believe." The focus is the scholars who, we must recall, credit Marshall's early legal strategies with paving the way for Brown. So anything they would be "likely to believe" must hinge somehow on that. This question offers another big, fat hint in the wording of the answer choices: Each begins with "Without Marshall's argument in Shelley v. Kraemer," language that signals ?are you ready? ? a necessary condition. What would that Shelley argument be necessary for? Why, the rejection of "separate but equal," of course. This question in its shy way is dealing with Global issues. Without Marshall's earlier argument in Shelley, paving the way, the court in Brown probably would not have ruled in his favor.

• Question 188:

  Bird-watchers explore a forest to see which of the following six kinds of birds -- grosbeak, harrier, jay, martin, shrike, wren -- it contains. The findings are consistent with the following conditions:

  If harriers are in the forest, then grosbeaks are not. If jays, martins, or both are in the forest, then so are harriers If wrens are in the forest, then so are grosbeaks If jays are not in the forest, then shrikes are

  Which one of the following could be a complete and accurate list of the birds NOT in the forest?

  A. jays, shrikes
  B. harriers, grosbeaks
  C. grosbeaks, jays, martins
  D. grosbeaks, martins, shrikes, wrens
  E. martins, shrikes
  D. grosbeaks, martins, shrikes, wrens

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  Partial Acceptability questions -- those in which the choices give you only part of the story -- are rendered easier if you lay out, carefully and without rushing, the rest of the story. Here, it means that your test booklet might look like so: Not In Therefore In:

  

• Question 189:

  Conflict had existed between Spain and England since the 1570s. England wanted a share of the wealth that Spain had been taking from the lands it had claimed in the Americas. Elizabeth I, Queen of England, encouraged her staunch admiral of the navy, Sir Francis Drake, to raid Spanish ships and towns. Though these raids were on a small scale, Drake achieved dramatic success, adding gold and silver to England's treasury and diminishing Spain's omnipotence. Religious differences also caused conflict between the two countries. Whereas Spain was Roman Catholic, most of England had become Protestant. King Philip II of Spain wanted to claim the throne and make England a Catholic country again. To satisfy his ambition and also to retaliate against England's theft of his gold and silver, King Philip began to build his fleet of warships, the Armada, in January 1586. Philip intended his fleet to be indestructible. In addition to building new warships, he marshaled one hundred and thirty sailing vessels of all types and recruited more than nineteen thousand robust soldiers and eight thousand sailors. Although some of his ships lacked guns and others lacked ammunition, Philip was convinced that his Armada could withstand any battle with England.

  The martial Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on May 9,1588, but bad weather forced it back to port. The voyage resumed on July 22 after the weather became more stable. The Spanish fleet met the smaller, faster, and more maneuverable English ships in battle off the coast of Plymouth, England, first on July 31 and again on August 2. The two battles left Spain vulnerable, having lost several ships and with its ammunition depleted. On August 7, while the Armada lay at anchor on the French side of the Strait of Dover, England sent eight burning ships into the midst of the Spanish fleet to set it on fire. Blocked on one side, the Spanish ships could only drift away, their crews in panic and disorder. Before the Armada could regroup, the English attacked again on August 8. Although the Spaniards made a valiant effort to fight back, the fleet suffered extensive damage. During the eight hours of battle, the Armada drifted perilously close to the rocky coastline. At the moment when it seemed that the Spanish ships would be driven onto the English shore, the wind shifted, and the Armada drifted out into the North Sea. The Spaniards recognized the superiority of the English fleet and returned home, defeated.

  Sir Francis Drake added wealth to the treasury and diminished Spain's __________.

  A. unlimited power
  B. unrestricted growth
  C. territory
  D. treaties
  E. answer not available in article
  A. unlimited power

• Question 190:

  From among ten stones, a jeweler will select six, one for each of six rings. Of the stones, three -- F, G, and H -- are rubies; three -- J, K, and M -- are sapphires; and four -- W, X, Y, and Z -- are topazes. The selection of stones must meet the

  following restrictions:

  At least two of the topazes are selected.

  If exactly two of the sapphires are selected, exactly one of the rubies is selected.

  If W is selected, neither H nor Z is selected.

  If M is selected, W is also selected.

  Which one of the following must be true?

  A. G is selected.
  B. J is selected.
  C. X is selected.
  D. Of at least one of the three types of stones, exactly one stone is selected.
  E. Of at least one of the three types of stones, exactly three stones are selected.
  E. Of at least one of the three types of stones, exactly three stones are selected.

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  Those who worked out the number options we laid out above had no trouble with this one. No matter how you slice it, at least one stone type -- and possibly two -- are represented by exactly 3 stones. And even if you didn't work out every possibility, simply seeing that 2 : 2 : 2 was an impossible ratio(because of Rule 2) might have led you to suspect that option [Of at least one ... three stones are selected.] was a true statement. Options [G is selected.], [J is selected.] and [X is selected.] are far from necessarily true--there are lots of possibilities in which G, J, and X respectively are not present. And the possibility of choosing, say, 3 sapphires + 3 topazes means that option [Of at least one ... one stone are selected] need not be true either.