LSAT Explanation PT 23, S3, Q10: Editorial: The most vocal proponents of

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 B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The editorial argues that the proposed law is supported by wealthy summer residents who will benefit from it without having to deal with its problems. Therefore, the passage concludes that supporting the law serves only the interests of these outsiders and creates problems for the island's permanent residents. The structure of the argument can be broken down as follows:

Premise 1: Wealthy summer residents are the most vocal proponents of the proposed law.

Premise 2: These summer residents will benefit from the law without having to deal with its problems.

Conclusion: Supporting the law serves the interests of a few outsiders at the cost of creating problems for the island's permanent residents.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question: "Do the benefits of the proposed law for the island's permanent residents outweigh the problems it creates for them?"

The question type for this problem is Necessary Assumption, and it asks us to identify an assumption on which the argument depends.

Answer Choice (a): While the passage mentions that wealthy summer residents support the law, the average income of the island's residents is not a relevant issue to the argument. The focus is on the fact that summer residents will not have to deal with the law's problems, not their income levels.

Answer Choice (b): This is the correct answer choice. This choice defends against the possibility that the benefits of the law might outweigh the problems for the island's permanent residents. By assuming that the problems outweigh the benefits, the argument can conclude that supporting the law serves only the interests of a few outsiders.

Answer Choice (c): Although this choice supports the idea that summer residents have more to gain from the proposed law, it is not essential to the argument. The argument's focus is on the problems created for the island's permanent residents, not the benefits for the summer residents.

Answer Choice (d): This choice would support the underlying assertion of the argument, but it is not essential to the argument. The argument's focus is on the problems created for the island's permanent residents, not the level of support among summer residents.

Answer Choice (e): The opposition of the island's permanent residents to the proposed law is not essential to the argument. The argument's conclusion is that supporting the law serves the interests of a few outsiders at the cost of creating problems for the island's permanent residents, regardless of their level of opposition.