LR Drill Set 2, Question 7
Most large stores that sell mainly books also(57 more words not shown)
The statements above, if true,(8 more words not shown)
- AIf a store(20 more words not shown)
- BIf a large(20 more words not shown)
- CIf a large(17 more words not shown)
- DIf a store(22 more words not shown)
- EIf a store(25 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
A bookstore that sells calendars isn't necessarily a calendar store. Keep the main business separate from an item on the shelf.
The first statement concerns large stores that mainly sell books. Most also sell calendars and stay open all year. The next statements switch to stores that mainly sell calendars. Most of those aren't open during most months, and the ones in large shopping malls are more likely to be open most months than the ones outside.
That gives us a comparison within the calendar-store group, not a count of how many stores are in each location. It also doesn't tell us how common bookstores are compared with every other retailer.
What we’re looking for
I don't see a need to force all three statements into one sweeping prediction. For the inference question, let's test the choices against the specific groups and comparisons we actually have.
Working the answers
- A
A higher rate inside malls doesn't mean most calendar stores that stay open are inside malls. Suppose four of five mall stores stay open most months, but 50 of 1,000 stores outside malls do. The mall rate is much higher, yet most of the open stores are outside malls: 50 compared with four. We need group sizes to move from “more likely if inside” to “probably inside if open.”
- B
We know what most large bookstores do. We aren't told what the exceptions do. A bookstore that closes for much of the year could still sell calendars. The opening statement doesn't require calendar sales and year-round opening to occur together in every store.
- C
A large store could sell calendars and remain open without mainly selling books. A general retailer, for example, could fit those descriptions. Knowing that most large bookstores have certain features doesn't tell us that most stores with those features are bookstores. We haven't been given the relative sizes of those groups.
- DCorrect
Start with the calendar stores overall: most are not open during most months. Then use the location comparison. Stores outside the large malls are even less likely to be open most months than those inside. The outside group therefore cannot have a majority staying open; if it did, the inside group would have an even higher rate, and the overall group could not mostly be closed.
So an outside calendar store is probably not open most months. This uses both statements about calendar stores. The overall “most” statement alone wouldn't tell us about a particular subgroup, but the comparison tells us this subgroup is on the less-likely-to-be-open side.
- E
Selling books and calendars all year doesn't establish a store's size or main business. Think again of a general retailer that sells many kinds of merchandise, including both. The first statement describes most large bookstores; E tries to use some of their features to identify a store as a large bookstore. That direction isn't supported.
More Must Be True questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Must Be True questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.