LSAT Explanation PT 23, S2, Q18: Columnist: The advent of television helps

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most supports the columnist's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In this passage, the columnist is arguing that the advent of television helps to explain why the growth in homicide rates in urban areas began significantly earlier than the growth in homicide rates in rural areas. The argument is structured as follows:

Premise: Television sets became popular in urban households about five years earlier than in rural households.

Premise: Urban homicide rates began increasing in 1958, about four years earlier than a similar increase in rural homicide rates began.

Conclusion: The advent of television helps to explain the earlier growth in urban homicide rates compared to rural homicide rates.

The argument is suggesting a causal relationship between the popularity of television sets and the growth in homicide rates. However, it is only presenting a correlation between the two, which is a common issue in LSAT problems. To strengthen the argument, we need to find evidence that supports this causal relationship.

The question type is Strengthen, and we are asked to identify which answer choice, if true, most supports the columnist's argument.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) In places where the number of violent television programs is low, the homicide rates are also low.

This answer choice only provides another correlation, rather than establishing a causal relationship. It does not directly support the argument that the advent of television helps to explain the earlier growth in urban homicide rates.

b) The portrayal of violence on television is a cause, not an effect, of the violence in society.

This answer choice establishes a causal relationship between television and violence in society. It supports the argument that the advent of television helps to explain the earlier growth in urban homicide rates compared to rural homicide rates. This is the correct answer.

c) There were no violent television programs during the early years of television.

This answer choice, if anything, weakens the argument by suggesting that there was no violence on television during the relevant time period. It does not support the causal relationship between the advent of television and the growth in homicide rates.

d) The earlier one is exposed to violence on television, the more profound the effect.

This answer choice is not relevant to the argument, as it focuses on the age of exposure to violence on television rather than the timing of the increase in homicide rates in urban and rural areas.

e) Increasing one's amount of leisure time increases one's inclination to act violently.

This answer choice introduces an additional assumption that watching TV increases leisure time. However, we don't have any information about the relationship between the advent of television and leisure time. This answer choice does not directly support the argument and requires additional information.

In conclusion, the correct answer is B, as it establishes a causal relationship between television and violence in society, which strengthens the argument that the advent of television helps to explain the earlier growth in urban homicide rates compared to rural homicide rates.