LSAT Explanation PT 27, S1, Q21: In order to pressure the government

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument given by the manufacturers 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

Let's first analyze the passage's argument. The conclusion is that telecommunication equipment exports should be exempted from the ban. The premise supporting this conclusion is that it's impossible for a country to remain repressive when telecommunication equipment is widely available to the population.

To understand this argument, imagine a town where the mayor wants to ban the sale of all electronic devices to prevent people from wasting time on them. However, the local computer store argues that computers should be exempt from this ban because computers can actually help people become more productive when widely available.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument might be: "Would the computers be widely available and accessible to the majority of the town's population?"

Now, let's examine the answer choices for this Necessary Assumption question.

A) This answer choice talks about the government of S increasing the amount of telecommunication equipment allowed to be imported. However, this information is not necessary for the manufacturers' argument to hold. The focus is on whether the equipment will help reduce repression when widely available, not on the recent actions of the government of S.

B) This is the correct answer. The manufacturers' argument assumes that the telecommunication equipment will not be available solely to top government officials in S. If this assumption were false, and the equipment were only available to a select few, the premise that widely available telecommunication equipment reduces repression would not hold.

C) This answer choice focuses on the opinions of R's legislature members, which is not necessary for the manufacturers' argument. The argument is about the connection between the availability of telecommunication equipment and the reduction of repression, not about the opinions of the legislators.

D) While this answer choice might seem tempting, it's not necessary for the telecommunication equipment to be the most effective export in helping citizens oppose the repressive government. The argument only needs the equipment to be effective enough to justify the exemption from the ban.

E) This answer choice discusses the government of S's ability to repress its citizens without pressure from Country R. However, this information is not necessary for the manufacturers' argument. The focus is on the impact of telecommunication equipment availability on repression, not on the government's ability to continue repressing its citizens without external pressure.

In conclusion, the correct answer is B, as it is a necessary assumption for the manufacturers' argument. The other answer choices either focus on irrelevant information or set an unnecessarily high standard for the effectiveness of the telecommunication equipment.