LSAT Explanation PT 24, S2, Q10: Economist: The economy seems to be

LSAT Question Stem

That consumers are buying more durable goods than before figures in the economist's argument in which one of the following ways? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is an Argument Part question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The economist is making an argument that the economy seems to be heading out of recession. The structure of the argument is as follows:

1. Premise: Recent figures show that consumers are buying more durable goods than before.

2. Intermediate Conclusion (also a premise): This indicates that they expect economic growth in the near future.

3. Primary Conclusion: The economy seems to be heading out of recession.

The question is an Argument Part question, asking us to identify the role of the statement "consumers are buying more durable goods than before" within the economist's argument.

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) It is the phenomenon that the argument seeks to explain.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument seeks to explain the state of the economy (heading out of recession), not the phenomenon of consumers buying more durable goods.

b) Its truth is required in order for the argument's conclusion to be true.

This answer choice is incorrect because the truth of the premise is not required for the conclusion to be true. The argument could still be valid if there were other reasons or data supporting the conclusion that the economy is heading out of recession.

c) It is an inference drawn from the premise that the recession seems to be ending.

This answer choice is incorrect because it reverses the roles. The statement about consumers buying more durable goods is a premise, not an inference drawn from the conclusion.

d) It is an inference drawn from the premise that consumers expect economic growth in the near future.

This answer choice is incorrect because it again reverses the roles. The statement about consumers buying more durable goods is a premise that leads to the intermediate conclusion that consumers expect economic growth, not an inference drawn from it.

e) It is the primary evidence from which the argument's conclusion is drawn.

This answer choice is correct. The statement about consumers buying more durable goods serves as primary evidence (a premise) that supports the intermediate conclusion (that consumers expect economic growth) and ultimately leads to the primary conclusion (that the economy is heading out of recession).

So, the correct answer is E.