LSAT Explanation PT 26, S2, Q13: A local television station is considering

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following must the television station assume in order to conclude that the plan will meet its stated purpose? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's break down the argument in the passage. The local television station is considering a plan to create a panel of child psychologists to review programs and rate their level of violence. The station believes that this remedy would forewarn parents about the level of violence in any given program. The conclusion of the argument is that the plan would forewarn parents about the level of violence in any given program. The premise supporting this conclusion is that the station will create a panel of child psychologists to review programs and rate their level of violence.

To make this more relatable, let's use a parallel example. Imagine a school considering implementing a system where teachers rate the difficulty of their homework assignments. The school believes that this system would help parents understand how challenging the assignments are for their children.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do parents have access to the difficulty ratings provided by the teachers?"

Now let's move on to the question type, which is a Necessary Assumption question. We need to identify the assumption the television station must make for their plan to meet its stated purpose.

a) Parents would read and pay attention to the ratings listed in the newspapers.

This answer choice is correct. For the plan to work, the station must assume that parents will read and pay attention to the ratings in the newspapers. If parents don't read the ratings, they won't be forewarned about the level of violence in the programs.

b) There would be fewer shows rated with one gun than with four guns.

This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the nature of the shows, which is not relevant to whether the plan will forewarn parents about the level of violence. The plan could still work regardless of the number of shows rated with one gun or four guns.

c) The rating system described in the passage is the most effective system available.

This answer choice is incorrect because the system doesn't have to be the most effective for it to forewarn parents. It just needs to be effective enough to inform parents about the level of violence in the programs.

d) The local television station has an obligation to forewarn parents of the level of violence in television shows.

This answer choice is incorrect because the obligation of the station is not relevant to whether the plan will forewarn parents. The argument focuses on the effectiveness of the plan, not the station's obligation.

e) Television producers of programs rated as having high levels of violence would make an effort to reduce those levels.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument is about forewarning parents, not reducing the level of violence in the programs. The plan could still work even if producers don't make an effort to reduce violence levels.

In conclusion, the correct answer is A, as the television station must assume that parents will read and pay attention to the ratings listed in the newspapers for the plan to meet its stated purpose.