LSAT Explanation PT 27, S4, Q17: The Green Ensemble, a nonprofit theater

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is a conclusion that can be properly drawn from the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Must Be True question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the passage and break it down into simpler terms. The Green Ensemble, a nonprofit theater group, relies heavily on financial contributions from corporations. If any of these corporations stopped supporting them, the group would have to disband. However, the Green Ensemble has managed to continue operating this year and even announced its schedule for next year.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Must Be True (MBT) question, which means we need to find the answer choice that can be properly concluded based on the information given in the passage.

Let's go through each answer choice and evaluate them:

a) None of the Green Ensemble's corporate sponsors withdrew their financial support of the group this year.

This answer choice is consistent with the information in the passage. Since the Green Ensemble would have disbanded if any corporate sponsor withdrew support, and they are still operating, we can conclude that none of the sponsors withdrew their support this year. This is a strong contender for the correct answer.

b) Earlier this year the Green Ensemble found other sources of funding for next year, making the group less dependent on corporations for financial support.

While this answer choice seems plausible, there is no information in the passage to support the claim that the Green Ensemble found other sources of funding. We cannot properly conclude this from the given information.

c) During this year corporate funding for the Green Ensemble has been steadily increasing.

The passage does not provide any information about the trend of corporate funding for the Green Ensemble. We cannot conclude that the funding has been steadily increasing based on the given information.

d) This year corporate funding was the source of more than half of the Green Ensemble's income.

The passage only tells us that the Green Ensemble is financially dependent on corporate contributions, but it does not specify the proportion of their income that comes from these contributions. We cannot properly conclude this from the given information.

e) Corporate funding for nonprofit theater groups like the Green Ensemble has recently increased.

Again, the passage does not provide any information about the overall trend of corporate funding for nonprofit theater groups. We cannot conclude that funding has recently increased based on the given information.

After analyzing each answer choice, we can determine that the correct answer is (a) None of the Green Ensemble's corporate sponsors withdrew their financial support of the group this year, as it is the only conclusion that can be properly drawn from the information provided in the passage.