1992 Lsat Logic Game - Preptest 6 - Soft Drink Manufacturer Survey

In LSAT PrepTest 06, Analytical Game 02: October 1992
a soft drink manufacturer surveyed consumer preferences for proposed names for its new soda. The names are as follows: Jazz, Kola, Luck, Mist, Nipi, Oboy, and Ping. The challenge of the test taker is to determine the exact order of consumer preferences for the proposed names.

As a preliminary matter the test taker must determine what type of LSAT logic game she is asked to solve. Logic games fall under four broad categories: 1) sequential; 2) grouping; 3) sequential game with grouping aspects; and 4) grouping game with sequential aspects. When the test taker is faced with a sequential game the test taker must quickly ascertain whether the sequential game has any grouping aspects or additional sequential aspects. When neither grouping aspects nor additional sequential aspects occur, the test taker should understand that she is faced with a sequential game.

When faced with all third order rules the test taker should understand that she is involved in a pure sequencing game. Pure sequential games are by and large of the nuts and bolts variety. Pure sequential games are not of the nuts and bolts variety only if there are third order rules sufficient to create indirect first and second order rules. Put another way, where there are third order rules sufficient to place the entire sequence.

Once the test taker has determined the type of LSAT logic game that she is asked to solve, the test taker must then decide which solution strategy to employ. Four basic solution strategies are listed as follows in order of solution preference: 1) wholly solved scenarios; 2) intuitively solved scenarios; 3) scenario templates; and 4) nuts and bolts.

A nuts and bolts solution strategy is employed when the rules of the logic game allow for neither the creation of scenarios nor the creation of scenario templates. Put another way, the rules of the logic game do not allow any type of meaningful distribution. Thus, the test taker should turn directly to the questions. In a nuts and bolts game it is the confining characteristics of the questions, rather than of the rules, that enables the test taker to answer the questions.

As always the test taker should apply the hierarchy of rules to solve the scenarios. The test taker should realize that this is a pure sequencing game. Recall that a pure sequencing game is one where the test taker is given merely third order rules. In almost every pure sequence game the test taker has no hope to solve the scenarios. Rather, the test taker is a LSAT logic game of the nuts and bolts variety.

The only situation that pure sequencing games are not of the nuts and bolts variety is where there are third order rules sufficient to create indirect first and second order rules. Put another way, where there are third order rules sufficient to place the entire sequence. The test taker might be thrown off by rules three and four which seemingly indicate something other than third order rules. Specifically, they appear to be fourth order rules but are not.

As always in a game like this is whether or not the test taker realizes which variables in the sequence are related to one another and which variables in the sequence have no sequential relationship. The test taker is advised to scribe dotted lines across the sequence of variables that are sequentially related to one another.

The test taker should begin with an earliest latest chart to determine the range that each of the variables can fit in. This concept is easier shown via video than in writing. The test taker should always construct charts such as this in pure sequencing games as it helps the test taker to visualize what can occur. Further, the earliest latest chart directly reveals to the test taker the range that each variable can be placed in.

LSAT PrepTest 06, Analytical Game 02: October 1992
is of moderate difficulty. The test taker that has practiced these types of logic games should not experience any real difficulty in solving this game.