Q13 - A large company has been convicted

[Laura Damone]

What does the Question Stem tell us?
"accurately expresses overall conclusion" = ID the Conclusion. Be on the lookout for intermediary conclusions and don't trust the last line. The main point is usually earlier.

Break down the Stimulus:
Line 1: Background. There's been a conviction. Line 2: Opposing point. Don't expect the conviction to change behavior. Line 3: Turnaround word "still" which, when following an opposing point, almost always introduces evidence or the conclusion. In ID the Conclusion questions, the latter is more common. Midway through line 3 we get another indicator word, "since," which tells us that what follows it is offered in support of what came before it. That makes the first part of line 3 a conclusion and the second part evidence. Line 4: "After all" indicates a continuation, and since what came before it is a premise, we know this line to be a premise as well, making the first part of line 3 the main conclusion.

Any prephrase?
"the trial was worthwhile"

Correct answer:
D

Answer choice analysis:
A) The argument never said that. If it doesn't quote or paraphrase the stimulus, it's wrong. Don't infer!

B) Premise.
C) Opposing point.

D) Correct! Exactly what we were looking for.

E) Don't infer! While this may seem like something we could conclude from our argument, it wasn't the conclusion of our argument.

Takeaway/Pattern: On ID the Conclusion, paraphrase, don't infer! And watch out for the common form: Opposing point, turnaround word, conclusion, premises.

#officialexplanation

[hyewonkim89]

I was down to (C) and (D) and luckily got this question right by picking (D).

The reason why I eliminated (C) was because I felt like "Still" meant similar to "But." And the rest of the stimulus states premises for the third sentence.

Then what is the second sentence in the argument?

Is my reason to eliminate (C) correct?

Thanks in advance!

[LSATeater]

I was down to (C) and (D) and luckily got this question right by picking (D).

The reason why I eliminated (C) was because I felt like "Still" meant similar to "But." And the rest of the stimulus states premises for the third sentence.

Then what is the second sentence in the argument?

Is my reason to eliminate (C) correct?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, perfect! C is a point which the author concedes. The author's conclusion, indicated by "still" and accurately summarized in choice D, is that in spite of the trial's limitations it was still worthwhile. Notice also that choice D is the only choice that passes a positive judgement on the trial.

[tommywallach]

Again, perfect response from LSATeater. The second sentence is a counterpremise (it goes against the eventual conclusion). You nailed it!

-t

[coco.wu1993]

I picked the correct answer D but I think it is far from ideal. D says the company's trial was worthwhile, which sounds like the trial is worthwhile to the company. However, what the argument actually says is it's worthwhile to consumers and competitors.

I think A could be a good answer. The stimulus says the penalty imposed had little effect on the company's behavior, but the trial certainly had ("forced the company to restrain its unfair behavior").

Thanks in advance for any help!

[maryadkins]

Key on these main conclusion questions is to choose the answer that actually matches the conclusion AS STATED in the argument. The argument actually SAYS (D): "Still, the trial was worthwhile." (A) presents a milder version that may be tempting but isn't actually what the conclusion IS, as stated.

Stay as true to the text as possible on these. Identify the conclusion, then find a match.

[VendelaG465]

Hi, I'm still a bit confused as to why C couldn't have worked. Can anyone explain?

[ohthatpatrick]

When you read this paragraph, you bracketed off the 2nd sentence as the conclusion?

If so, pick (C).
If not, eliminate (C).

If you bracketed off the 2nd sentence as the conclusion, you should verify your pick by asking, "Does this claim have the two properties I need to see in Conclusions? 1. They express an author's opinion. 2. They are supported by at least one other idea"

1. Is the 2nd sentence expressing an author's opinion?
YES.

2. Is the 2nd sentence supported by at least one other idea?
NO.

That's how you can tell the 2nd sentence isn't the author's conclusion. To examine whether a claim has any support, ask yourself, "Why should I believe that?"

CLAIM:
The penalty will probably have little if any effect on the company's behavior.
(why should I believe that?)
.... ?

Meanwhile for the correct conclusion,

CLAIM (expressing an author opinion):
"The trial was worthwhile"
(why should I believe that?)

Because it provided useful information to the company's competitors/rivals and this info has forced the company to restrain its unfair behavior.