LSAT Explanation PT 19, S4, Q11: Five thousand of the 50,000 books

LSAT Question Stem

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

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Sufficient Assumption, which asks us to identify an assumption that, if true, would allow the conclusion to be properly drawn.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage:

1. Premise: 5,000 of the 50,000 books published in country Z in 1991 were novels.

2. Premise: 25 of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on those novels.

3. Premise: 100 films were released in country Z in 1992.

4. Conclusion: No more than one-quarter of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on books published in country Z in 1991.

The argument's structure can be represented as:

- 5,000 novels published in 1991

- 25 films in 1992 based on those novels

- 100 total films in 1992

- No more than 1/4 of films in 1992 based on books published in 1991

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Were any of the films released in country Z in 1992 based on books other than novels published in country Z in 1991?"

Now let's discuss each answer choice:

a) This answer choice is not relevant to the argument because it talks about scripts and does not focus on country Z. We need an answer that addresses the possibility of films being based on non-novels from 1991.

b) This is the correct answer choice. By stating that none of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on books other than novels, it eliminates the possibility of films being based on non-novels from 1991. This allows us to properly conclude that no more than one-quarter of the films released in country Z in 1992 were based on books published in country Z in 1991.

c) This answer choice mixes up the years of the films and novels and does not address the issue of films being based on non-novels from 1991.

d) Although this answer choice provides another source for some films released in 1992, it does not justify the argument. We need an answer that addresses all remaining 75 films, not just some of them.

e) This answer choice talks about films from the wrong year (1991), which is not relevant to the argument.

In summary, the correct answer is (B), as it eliminates the possibility of films being based on non-novels from 1991, allowing the conclusion to be properly drawn.