Weaken Question
LSAT glossary · Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Definition
An LSAT Logical Reasoning question type that asks which new piece of information, if true, would most seriously undermine the argument's support for its conclusion. Recognition: "Which, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?" The task is to widen the gap between premises and conclusion — typically by introducing an alternative explanation, identifying an overlooked difference, or attacking the argument's central assumption. Weaken answers do not have to disprove the conclusion; they only need to reduce the likelihood that the premises support it.
Weaken Question in plain English
A Weaken question asks you to find a new fact that, if true, would make the argument's conclusion less believable — you're poking a hole, not demolishing the whole thing. The most common way to do this is to reveal something the argument overlooked, like an alternative explanation. For example, if someone claims 'sales rose because our new ad worked,' the fact that a competitor's store burned down that same month weakens it — maybe THAT'S why sales rose. You don't have to prove the conclusion false; you just have to make the leap from evidence to conclusion look shakier than it did before.
Practice Weaken Question
Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the manager's conclusion?
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