LSAT Explanation PT 31, S2, Q5: Television executives recently announced that advertising

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, would most support the television executives' argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The television executives claim that advertising time on television will cost 10 to 15 percent more next fall than it cost last fall. Despite this increase, they argue that advertisers will continue to profit from television advertising, and so advertising time will be no harder to sell next fall than it was last fall. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise: Advertising time on television will cost 10-15% more next fall than last fall.

Conclusion: Advertising time will be no harder to sell next fall than it was last fall.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Will the increase in advertising costs be offset by other factors that make television advertising more profitable for advertisers?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and answer choices. The question type is Strengthen, which means we are looking for an answer choice that would most support the television executives' argument.

a) This answer choice talks about the costs of production and distribution of products typically advertised on television. While it may be relevant to advertisers' overall expenses, it doesn't directly support the argument about the ease of selling advertising time on television. Therefore, this answer choice is not the best choice.

b) Changing the system for rating the size of the audience watching any given television advertisement doesn't directly support the argument that advertising time will be no harder to sell next fall. It is not clear how this change would affect the profitability of television advertising or the ease of selling advertising time. Thus, this answer choice is not the best choice.

c) This answer choice states that next fall, advertising time on television will no longer be available in blocks smaller than 30 seconds. However, it doesn't explain how this change would support the argument that advertising time will be no harder to sell next fall. Without more information about the preferences of advertisers and the impact of this change, this answer choice is not the best choice.

d) This answer choice tells us that the amount of television advertising time purchased by providers of services is increasing, while the amount of such time purchased by providers of products is decreasing. While this information may indicate a shift in the types of advertisers buying television advertising time, it doesn't directly support the argument that advertising time will be no harder to sell next fall. We don't know if the increase in service providers' purchases will offset the decrease in product providers' purchases, and we don't know how this change will affect the overall profitability of television advertising. Therefore, this answer choice is not the best choice.

e) This answer choice states that a recent survey has shown that the average number of hours people spend watching television is increasing at the rate of 2 percent every two months. This information supports the television executives' argument by suggesting that there will be a larger audience for television advertisements, which could make television advertising more profitable for advertisers despite the increased costs. As a result, advertising time may be no harder to sell next fall than it was last fall. This answer choice is the best choice, as it most directly supports the argument.

So, the correct answer is E.