Stimulus
LSAT glossary · Logical Reasoning
Definition
The passage or argument presented in a Logical Reasoning question, containing the premises, conclusion, and any background information the student must analyze.
Stimulus in plain English
The stimulus is just the little block of text you read BEFORE you get to the question and answer choices — the paragraph you have to think hard about. Think of it like the crime scene: everything you need to solve the case is sitting right there in those few sentences, including the point the author is trying to prove (the conclusion), the reasons they give for it (the premises), and maybe some extra facts for context. Your whole job is to read that scene carefully, because the correct answer always depends on what's actually in it — not on what you already believe about the topic.
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