***
This Logical Reasoning question is from the October 2004 LSAT.
Let's make a chain of short phrases so we can see how the logic of this argument progresses:
Juries judge experts on their presentation --> good presenters with less expertise are wanted
What is the principle here? The chain makes it clear. The principle is something like "Persuasion and presentation matter more than knowledge." Since we cannot pre-phrase an answer to this (there are innumerable examples that would fit this principle), let's go through the answer choices, looking for one with the same underlying principle.
A) Correct, since it says that knowledge is less important than the gamesmanship and persuasion of campaigning.
B) Beyond the scope of the question. This choice is talking just about improving presentation/persuasion, not about it being more important than real knowledge.
C) This is the opposite of what we want, since it's saying that presentation (what affects the audience) is less important than quality.
D) Totally outside the question's scope. The principle here is about appearances being more important than substance, not about people internalizing morals or anything like that.
E) Again, totally beyond the question's scope. This answer choice doesn't speak to the appearance/substance issue.
Remember:
1) Make a chain of short phrases to show how the argument progresses. After you get some practice, it won't be necessary to write it down for most questions. Just keeping it in mind is good, unless the question is difficult. Also, remember that you cannot pre-phrase for every question, especially those with many possible correct answers.
2) On principle questions, which are fairly common in the Arguments section, all you need to do is find the underlying idea in the argument and then find the one answer choice with the same underlying idea. Eliminate answer choices that don't illustrate the same principle.
3) Watch out for answer choices beyond the question's scope or that are the opposite of what we're looking for. Those 2 simple categories will allow you to eliminate all the wrong answer choices in most situations.
