Muscular strength is a limited resource, and athletic techni

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Muscular strength is a limited resource, and athletic techniques help to use this resource efficiently. Since top athletes do not differ greatly from each other in muscular strength, it follows that a requirement for an athlete to become a champion is a superior mastery of athletic techniques. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument?

A. Only champion athletes have a superior mastery of athletic techniques.
B. Superior muscular strength is a requirement for an athlete to become a champion.
C. No athlete can become a champion without a superior mastery of athletic techniques.
D. The differences in muscular strength between top athletes are not great.
E. Athletic techniques help athletes use limited resources efficiently.

What's the best approach to determine the answer? Can any experts help?

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by elias.latour.apex » Sat Feb 03, 2018 12:35 pm
This is an LSAT question of a type that has no equivalent on the GMAT test.

How do we find the conclusion of arguments? There are many ways, but here are some ideas:

1. Look to the question. Many times the conclusion is contained in the question or the question will give you a hint (e.g., the scientist's hypothesis).
2. Look for modal verbs such as will, must, should, etc.
3. Separate the argument into facts vs. claims/opinions. The conclusion will be an opinion/claim.
4. Look for indicator words such as therefore, thus, or clearly. These indicate that the conclusion is coming. Conversely, words such as because or since indicate that what follows is a premise.
5. Use the Why? test

In this argument, the conclusion is: A requirement for an athlete to become a champion is a superior mastery of athletic techniques.

Why? Because:

1. Muscular strength is a limited resource,
2. Athletic techniques help to use this resource efficiently, and
3. Top athletes do not differ greatly from each other in muscular strength.

This is the only statement that passes the Why? test.

(C), the credited response, is the answer that best paraphrases the phrase above.
Elias Latour
Verbal Specialist @ ApexGMAT
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