LSAT Explanation PT 29, S1, Q1: Politician: The funding for the new

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is the point at issue between the politician and the smoker? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Disagree question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The politician proposes that the funding for a new nationwide health-awareness campaign should come from an increase in taxes on cigarettes, arguing that since cigarette smoking causes many serious health problems, it is reasonable for people with such unhealthful habits to bear the costs of the campaign. This is the premise. The smoker counters by saying that regularly eating high-fat, high-cholesterol foods also causes as many serious health problems as smoking, and yet it would be unreasonable to force those who purchase such foods to bear the burden of financing the campaign. This is the conclusion.

Now, let's discuss the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Disagree question, which asks us to identify the point at issue between the politician and the smoker.

Let's examine each answer choice:

a) whether the politician's proposal for financing the health-awareness campaign is an unreasonable one

This answer choice is correct because it captures the disagreement between the politician, who thinks it's reasonable for smokers to bear the cost of the campaign, and the smoker, who argues that it would be unreasonable to force those who purchase high-fat, high-cholesterol foods to bear the burden of financing the campaign.

b) whether smokers are more aware of the harmful effects of their habit than are people who regularly eat high-fat, high-cholesterol foods

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not discuss the level of awareness of the harmful effects of either habit.

c) whether the effects of smoking constitute a greater health hazard than do the effects of regularly eating high-fat, high-cholesterol foods

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not focus on comparing the health hazards of smoking and eating high-fat, high-cholesterol foods.

d) whether it is unreasonable to require people who do not benefit from certain governmental programs to share the costs of those programs

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not discuss the benefits of the health-awareness campaign or who would benefit from it.

e) whether the proposed increase on cigarette taxes is an efficient means of financing the health-awareness campaign

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not discuss the efficiency of the proposed increase in cigarette taxes as a means of financing the campaign.

In conclusion, the correct answer is A, which captures the point at issue between the politician and the smoker regarding the reasonableness of the politician's proposal for financing the health-awareness campaign.