LSAT Explanation PT 27, S1, Q22: Some people believe that saying that

LSAT Question Stem

If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Must Be True question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's briefly analyze the passage. The passage states that some people believe that knowing an organization is hierarchical tells you everything about how it operates. It also states that all bureaucratically controlled organizations are hierarchical. Then, it provides an example of the Public Works Department (PWD) which is bureaucratically controlled but operates differently than most other bureaucratically controlled organizations. This implies that the belief mentioned earlier is not entirely accurate, as there are differences in how hierarchical organizations operate.

Now, let's look at the question type and what it's asking us to do. The question type is Must Be True (MBT), which means we need to find an answer choice that must be true based on the information given in the passage.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) The Public Works Department operates more like a nonbureaucratically controlled organization than like a bureaucratically controlled organization.

- This answer choice is tempting, but we don't have enough information to determine if the PWD operates "more like" a nonbureaucratically controlled organization. We only know that it operates differently than most bureaucratically controlled organizations. So, we cannot say this must be true.

b) Any organization that is hierarchical is bureaucratically controlled.

- This answer choice is an incorrect reversal of the passage's statement that all bureaucratically controlled organizations are hierarchical. The passage does not say that all hierarchical organizations are bureaucratically controlled, so we cannot say this must be true.

c) From the fact that a given organization is hierarchical nothing can reliably be concluded about how that organization operates.

- This answer choice is too strong. While the passage provides an example that challenges the belief that knowing an organization is hierarchical tells you everything about how it operates, it does not say that nothing can be reliably concluded. So, we cannot say this must be true.

d) Not all hierarchical organizations operate in the same way.

- This answer choice is correct. The passage provides an example (the PWD) that shows a hierarchical organization operating differently than most other bureaucratically controlled organizations. This demonstrates that not all hierarchical organizations operate in the same way, so this must be true based on the passage.

e) Whether or not an organization is bureaucratically controlled has nothing to do with how that organization operates.

- This answer choice is also too strong. The passage does not say that bureaucratically controlled status has nothing to do with how an organization operates. It simply provides an example of a bureaucratically controlled organization that operates differently than most others. So, we cannot say this must be true.

Based on our analysis, the correct answer is D.