LSAT Logical Reasoning: Give an Example

The Task

Identify the answer choice that is the best example of the stated principle, the best illustration of the passage's point, or the most relevant question for evaluating the argument.

What It Tests

Your ability to recognize principles or general rules and apply them accurately to specific cases – or to determine what additional information would be most relevant for evaluation. This requires moving between abstract generalizations and concrete instances.

A. EXACT LOGICAL FLOW

Step-by-Step Stimulus Structure

For Principle-Application Variants (Most Common):

1. The stimulus states a general principle, rule, or generalization. This is typically a broad, abstract statement about how things work, what should be done, or what is true in general. Principles are frequently expressed as CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS (if X, then Y) and function as premises.

The Nature of the Structure That Defines This Type

The defining structure is a BRIDGE between the abstract and the concrete. In one direction, a general principle is applied to a specific case (deductive application). In the other direction, a specific case illustrates a general rule (inductive abstraction). The relationship between principle and example is the core of every variant.

How Correct vs. Incorrect Answers Are Designed

Correct answer (for Apply the Principle): Presents a situation where: - The facts match the sufficient conditions of the principle - The judgment/conclusion follows the principle's consequent - All parts of the principle are properly applied (no missing conditions) - The logical direction is correct (sufficient conditions lead to necessary consequences, not reversed)

Correct answer (for Illustrate the Principle): States a general proposition that: - Accurately captures the pattern shown in the specific situation - Does not overstate or understate the principle - Applies to the specific facts described without adding extraneous elements

B. ALL WITHIN-TYPE VARIATIONS / SUBTYPES

Variation 1: Apply the Principle (Stimulus = Principle; Answers = Situations)

• The stimulus states a general rule or principle
• The answers each describe a specific situation
• You must find the situation that correctly applies (or conforms to) the principle
• Difficulty: Medium
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following is an application of the principle above?"
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle above?"
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle stated above?"

Variation 2: Identify Which Situation Conforms (Parallel Principle)

• The stimulus presents an argument that follows an underlying principle
• You must extract the general rule and find an answer that follows the same principle
• Difficulty: Medium-High (requires extracting the principle first)
• Stem wording: "Which of the following situations most conforms to the principle illustrated above?"
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following judgments best illustrates the principle illustrated by the argument above?"
• Stem wording: "Which of the following illustrates a principle most similar to that illustrated above?"

Variation 3: Identify the Principle (Stimulus = Situation; Answers = Principles)

• The stimulus describes a specific situation or argument
• The answers state general principles
• You must find which principle the situation best exemplifies
• Difficulty: Medium-High
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following propositions is best illustrated by the situation described above?"
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following generalizations does the situation most clearly illustrate?"
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following propositions does the passage most precisely illustrate?"

Variation 4: Violation of Principle

• The stimulus states a principle and the question asks which situation VIOLATES it
• You must find the answer where the principle's conditions are met but the conclusion contradicts the principle
• Difficulty: High (requires contrapositive thinking)
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following does not conform to the principle illustrated by the author?"

Variation 5: Evaluation Question

• The stimulus presents an argument or prediction
• You must identify what question or information would be most useful for assessing the argument
• Difficulty: Medium-High
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?"
• Stem wording: "The answer to which one of the following questions would be the most relevant in evaluating the accuracy of the prediction?"

Variation 6: Best Illustration of a General Claim

• The stimulus makes a general claim, and you must find the best specific example
• Difficulty: Medium
• Stem wording: "Which one of the following best illustrates the principle that the passage illustrates?"

C. ANSWER CHOICE CONSTRUCTION

How the Correct Answer Is Designed

For Apply the Principle: - Presents a scenario where all sufficient conditions of the principle are satisfied - The conclusion/judgment in the scenario correctly follows the principle's consequent - The logical arrow flows in the correct direction (from facts to judgment) - May require recognizing the contrapositive of the principle

For Identify the Principle: - States a general rule that accurately captures the specific pattern in the stimulus - Is neither too broad (would encompass cases the stimulus does not support) nor too narrow (would exclude the stimulus case) - Uses appropriate generality – abstract enough to be a "principle" but specific enough to match the stimulus

Common Wrong Answer Patterns

1. Missing Condition: The scenario meets SOME conditions of the principle but not ALL. E.g., the principle requires both X and Y; the answer only establishes X.

2. Reversed Conditional (Most Common Flaw Tested): The answer treats a necessary condition as sufficient. E.g., the principle says "If A then B"; the answer establishes B and concludes A. This is the most frequently tested error in principle application questions.

The Logical Relationship Between Correct Answer and Stimulus

The correct answer is a specific INSTANCE of the general RULE stated in the stimulus (or vice versa). The principle is the abstract pattern; the answer is the concrete realization. They are related as general-to-specific (deduction) or specific-to-general (induction).

D. COMMON PATTERNS AND TRAPS

Most Common Structures

1. Conditional Principle + Matching Scenario: "If conditions X and Y are met, then judgment Z follows." The correct answer presents a situation with X and Y, concluding Z.

2. Normative Principle + Compliance Case: "One should do A when B applies." The correct answer shows someone doing A when B applies.

How LSAC Designs the Hardest Versions

1. Contrapositive Required: The correct answer does not directly match the principle's "if-then" form but matches its contrapositive ("if not-then, then not-if"). Test-takers who only look for direct matches miss the correct answer.

2. Multiple Conditions: The principle has 3+ conditions that must all be satisfied. Wrong answers satisfy only a subset.

E. THE "ANATOMY" OF THE QUESTION

What Makes This Type Unique

• The ONLY question type organized around the general/specific bridge
• Requires moving between abstraction levels – from principles to examples or vice versa
• Principles frequently involve CONDITIONAL LOGIC, making this type a test of conditional reasoning skills
• The rarest canonical question type (only 19 questions, 0.4% of corpus)
• Overlaps with other principle-based question types but is distinguished by its focus on ILLUSTRATION and APPLICATION rather than strengthening or identifying assumptions

Exact Cognitive Steps

For Apply the Principle: 1. Read the stimulus and identify the principle. Break it down into its conditional components (if/then). Note all conditions and consequences. 2. Identify the contrapositive of the principle (it is equally valid and may be tested). 3. Read each answer choice and check: - Are ALL sufficient conditions of the principle met in this scenario? - Does the conclusion match the principle's consequent? - Is the logical direction correct? 4. Eliminate answers where conditions are missing, the conclusion is wrong, or the direction is reversed. 5. Select the answer that fully and correctly applies the principle.

For Identify the Principle: 1. Read the stimulus and identify the key pattern. What general rule does this specific situation demonstrate? 2. Abstract the pattern into general terms. What would this look like as a general rule? 3. Read each answer choice and check: Does this general statement accurately capture the pattern from the stimulus without overstating or understating it? 4. Eliminate answers that are too broad, too narrow, or that misstate the pattern. 5. Select the most accurate generalization.

How to Distinguish from Similar Types

• vs. Principle (Strengthen): Strengthen-with-principle asks for a principle that would SUPPORT an argument. Give an Example asks for a situation that APPLIES a principle.
• vs. Must Be True: Must Be True asks what can be inferred. Give an Example asks what illustrates or applies a rule.
• vs. Match the Reasoning: Match the Reasoning asks for parallel logical structure. Give an Example asks for a principle-example relationship.
• vs. Principle Conform (Type 15): Principle Conform typically provides a situation in the stimulus and asks for the principle; Give an Example more often provides the principle and asks for the situation. There is significant overlap between these types.

Characteristic Question Stems (Complete List)

• "Which one of the following propositions is best illustrated by the situation described above?"
• "Which one of the following generalizations does the situation most clearly illustrate?"
• "Which one of the following propositions does the passage most precisely illustrate?"
• "Which one of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?"
• "The answer to which one of the following questions would be the most relevant in evaluating the accuracy of the prediction?"
• "Which one of the following best illustrates the principle that the passage illustrates?"
• "Which one of the following is an application of the principle above?"
• "Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle above?"
• "Which one of the following most closely conforms to the principle stated above?"
• "Which of the following situations most conforms to the principle illustrated above?"
• "Which one of the following judgments best illustrates the principle illustrated by the argument above?"