LSAT Explanation PT 19, S2, Q24: The United States ranks far behind

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is supported by the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Most Strongly Supported (MSS), which means we need to find an answer choice that is supported by the information provided in the passage.

The passage tells us that the United States ranks far behind countries like Sweden and Canada in workplace safety. It also states that joint labor-management committees, which are successful in reducing occupational injuries, are only found in a few companies in the United States that have voluntarily established them. On the other hand, in Sweden and several Canadian provinces, these joint safety committees are required by law and exist in all medium-sized and large workplaces.

To make the information in the passage more accessible, let's use a simple example. Imagine a school where classrooms with a teacher and a teaching assistant (TA) have fewer disciplinary issues. In School A, only a few classrooms have a TA, while in School B, all classrooms have a TA. It is reasonable to infer that if School A were to have a TA in all classrooms, disciplinary issues would likely decrease.

Now let's analyze each answer choice:

a) This answer choice is supported by the passage. Since joint safety committees have been successful in reducing occupational injuries in all three countries, it is reasonable to infer that if more medium-sized and large workplaces in the United States established these committees, there would be a reduction in occupational injuries. This is the correct answer choice.

b) The passage does not provide any information to support the claim that a joint safety committee required by law is more effective than one that is voluntarily established. We only know that these committees have been successful in reducing injuries in all three countries. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) The passage does not provide any information about workplace safety in Sweden and Canada before the laws requiring joint safety committees were passed. Therefore, we cannot conclude that their workplace safety was superior to the United States even prior to the passage of these laws. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) The passage does not provide any information about whether joint safety committees had been voluntarily established in Sweden and several Canadian provinces before the passage of laws requiring such committees. This answer choice is irrelevant and incorrect.

e) Although it is reasonable to believe that the United States would improve its workplace safety by requiring joint safety committees in all medium-sized and large workplaces, the passage does not provide any evidence that this would lead to the United States surpassing Sweden and Canada in workplace safety. This answer choice is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (a), as it is the only statement that is supported by the information provided in the passage.