Sometimes it can be fun to look at some LSAT Logical Reasoning questions. They are sort of like “super-charged” GMAT Critical Reasoning questions.

Let’s break down an LSAT Assumption question using our GMAT Critical Reasoning strategy!

Ann will either take a leave of absence from Technocomp and return in a year or else she will quit her job there; but she would not do either one unless she were offered a one-year teaching fellowship at a prestigious university. Technocomp will allow her to take a leave of absence if it does not find out that she has been offered the fellowship, but not otherwise. Therefore, Ann will quit her job at Technocomp only if Technocomp finds out she has been offered the fellowship.

Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion above to be properly drawn?

(A) Technocomp will find out about Ann being offered the fellowship only if someone informs on her.

(B) The reason Ann wants the fellowship is so she can quit her job at Technocomp.

(C) Technocomp does not allow any of its employees to take a leave of absence in order to work for one of its competitors.

(D) Ann will take a leave of absence if Technocomp allows her to take a leave of absence.

(E) Ann would be offered the fellowship only if she quit her job at Technocomp

Since it’s an Assumption question, I recommend separating out the evidence from the conclusion, and looking for the “concept shift” in the conclusion. That is, what the new information is in the conclusion that the correct assumption will have to “account” for.

Evidence: Ann will take a sabbatical OR quit, but not if she gets a fellowship. But T won’t let her take the sabbatical if she gets the fellowship (the jerks!). 

Conclusion: Ann will quit only if T finds out she has been offered the fellowship.

Concept Shift: To me, this conclusion hinges on this idea of “ONLY” — why will she ONLY quit if T finds out?

It seems like the author is assuming that Ann wants to take the leave of absence. The correct answer has to have something to do with Ann’s desires.

Prediction: Something that explains why will she ONLY quit if T finds out.

(D) is the only one that addresses this specific scope.