LSAT Explanation PT 31, S3, Q24: Appliance dealer: Appliance manufacturers commonly modify

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the dealer's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Weaken, which means we are looking for an answer choice that undermines the conclusion or the relationship between the premises and the conclusion.

Let's first break down the argument in the passage:

Premise: Appliance manufacturers commonly modify existing models without giving the modified versions new model names.

Premise: Manufacturers' modifications to existing models are invariably improvements that benefit the buyer.

Conclusion: Therefore, consumers have little reason to object to this practice.

To better understand the argument, let's use a simple example. Imagine there's a popular toaster model called "ToastMaster 5000." The manufacturer makes an improvement to the toaster, but they don't change the name to "ToastMaster 5001." The argument is saying that since the improvement benefits the buyer, consumers shouldn't complain about the unchanged name.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do consumers have a way to distinguish between the improved model and the older model when making a purchase?"

Now let's analyze the answer choices:

a) Appliances are generally purchased with the expectation that they will continue to be used for several years.

This answer choice is irrelevant to the argument, as it doesn't address the issue of whether consumers can distinguish between the improved model and the older model.

b) Appliances usually carry a model number that provides substantially more detailed information about the product than does the model name.

This answer choice actually strengthens the argument by suggesting that consumers can use model numbers to distinguish between different versions of a product, even if the model names are the same.

c) Appliance manufacturers frequently sell identical products under several different model names.

This answer choice is irrelevant to the argument, as it doesn't address the issue of whether consumers can distinguish between the improved model and the older model when the model name remains the same.

d) Improved versions of appliances typically become available before vendors have stopped selling the older versions of the appliance with the same model name.

This answer choice weakens the argument by suggesting that consumers might not be able to easily distinguish between the improved model and the older model when both are available for purchase. If they can't tell the difference, they might end up buying the older version when they wanted the improved one. This justifies the consumer complaint mentioned in the passage, making answer choice (D) the correct answer.

e) The high cost of product advertising makes appliance manufacturers generally reluctant to change model names to reflect modifications to their products.

This answer choice provides a reason for why manufacturers might not change model names, but it doesn't address the issue of whether consumers can distinguish between the improved model and the older model. Therefore, it is irrelevant to the dealer's argument.