LSAT Explanation PT 20, S1, Q11: A certain credit-card company awards its

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Necessary Assumption, which means we are looking for an answer choice that, when negated, destroys the conclusion of the argument.

Let's first break down the argument in the passage. The passage presents a credit card scenario where customers receive bonus points for using their credit card. These points can be used to purchase merchandise by mail at lower prices than the manufacturers' suggested retail prices. The conclusion of the argument is that customers who purchase merchandise using the bonus points spend less than they would if they purchased the same merchandise in retail stores.

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) This answer choice, when negated, states that other credit-card companies offer the same merchandise at lower prices. This does not affect the conclusion since it only compares items offered by this particular company by mail and those items in a retail store.

b) This answer choice, when negated, only says that customers can buy merchandise not available in stores. It does not affect the conclusion because it says nothing about money being spent or prices.

c) This answer choice, when negated, says the companies make customers accrue a large number of points, but still reinforces the fact that prices are lower. When negated, it does not destroy the conclusion.

d) This is the correct answer choice. It addresses the gap in the reasoning – spending. When negated, this answer choice destroys the conclusion because, even though the prices may be lower, the customer spends more when shipping is added. Thus, this answer choice is necessary for the conclusion to follow.

e) This answer choice, when negated, does not affect the stimulus in any way. It introduces the new element of the "manufacturers' suggested retail price," which is irrelevant to the argument in the stimulus.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Does the total amount spent by customers using bonus points, including any additional costs like shipping, still result in a lower overall cost compared to purchasing the same merchandise in retail stores?"