LSAT Preptest 43 Section 4 Question 16 Explanation | Logic Games

I didn't write the following blog post. It was already on the blog when I took over the URL. The following blog post may contain mistakes. -Steve

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Here's a Logic Games question from the June 2004 LSAT.

Unfortunately, we can't use our answer from the first question, but the first diagram from Q15 answers the question. But let's pretend that no previous diagram helps and solve it for learning's sake. So, let's find a diagram to answer this question. If S is second, Z must be third (and sold to the museum), since S goes before Z. V must be second with the museum (since it has to be second somewhere). So, we have (x's just mean we don't know what goes there yet):

Museum: x, V, Z

Collector: x, S, x

Q and T must go somewhere, but Q can't go before T. This question asks what's right before Q, so we shouldn't put Q first (it would yield no answer). So let's put it last with the collector, T first with the museum, and R first with the collector:

Museum: T, V, Z

Collector: R, S, Q

We see that S goes before Q, so B is correct.

Remember:

Look for diagrams from previous questions that would solve the question; it cuts down on errors (the fewer you make, the fewer chances to screw up) and saves a lot of time. And if you can't find one (as we pretended here, for learning's sake), making your own diagram never fails.