LSAT Explanation PT 20, S4, Q6: The Rienzi, a passenger ship, sank

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following must be true on the basis of the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Must Be True question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Must Be True (MBT), which means we need to find the answer choice that must be true based on the information provided in the passage.

Let's first break down the passage to understand its key points:

1. The Rienzi sank due to a hole in its hull, possibly caused by sabotage.

2. Normally, a holed ship that sinks rapidly does not fully flood before reaching the ocean floor.

3. Full flooding can be achieved by sabotage.

4. Any ship that sinks deep into the ocean when not fully flooded will implode.

5. The Rienzi did not implode.

From these points, we can form the following conditional statements:

A. Not fully flooded -> Implode (/F -> I)

B. Fully flooded -> /Implode (F -> /I)

Since the Rienzi did not implode, we can conclude that it must have been fully flooded when it sank (F).

Now let's analyze each answer choice:

Answer choice (A): The passage does not provide any information about the Rienzi's construction to reduce the risk of sinking by impact. This answer choice cannot be inferred from the passage.

Answer choice (B): This answer choice contradicts the information in the passage. If the Rienzi was not fully flooded when it reached the ocean floor, it would have imploded. Since the Rienzi did not implode, it must have been fully flooded when it reached the ocean floor.

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If the Rienzi was not sunk by sabotage, then water must have flooded into it unusually fast. This is because, under normal circumstances, water does not enter the ship quickly enough to fully flood it before it sinks to the bottom of the ocean.

Answer choice (D): The passage does not provide any information about the relationship between the speed of sinking and imploding. We cannot infer that if the Rienzi had sunk more slowly, it would have imploded.

Answer choice (E): The passage does not provide any information about the Rienzi's construction to resist imploding under deep-sea pressure. This answer choice cannot be inferred from the passage.

Thus, the correct answer is answer choice (C).