LSAT Explanation PT 33, S1, Q6: A recent national study of the

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The argument states that a recent study found that plastics make up a smaller proportion of trash than paper products, whether measured by weight or volume. It also says that the environmental damage caused by a given weight or volume of trash is roughly the same for both plastics and paper products. Based on this information, the author concludes that contrary to popular opinion, the current use of plastics is less harmful to the environment nationwide than that of paper products. The structure of the argument includes the premises (the study findings about proportions and environmental damage) and the conclusion (plastics being less harmful than paper products).

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Does the production process of plastics and paper products have any significant impact on their overall environmental harm?"

Now, let's discuss the answer choices for the Strengthen question. The question asks us to find the choice that most strengthens the author's conclusion that the use of plastics is less environmentally harmful than the use of paper products.

a) A given weight of paper product may increase in volume after manufacture and before being discarded as trash.

- This answer choice does not strengthen the argument because the passage already establishes that paper makes up more trash than plastics by both weight and volume. This information does not provide any additional support for the conclusion.

b) According to popular opinion, volume is a more important consideration than weight in predicting the impact of a given quantity of trash on the environment.

- This answer choice is incorrect because the argument already states that paper makes up more trash than plastics by both weight and volume. Therefore, the relative importance of volume versus weight does not affect the conclusion.

c) The sum of damage caused to the environment by paper trash and by plastic trash is greater than that caused by any other sort of trash that was studied.

- This answer choice is irrelevant to the question of whether plastics use is less environmentally damaging than paper use. It does not provide any additional support for the conclusion.

d) The production of any paper product is more harmful to the environment than is the production of an equal weight or volume of any plastic.

- This is the correct answer choice. It strengthens the author's conclusion that plastics use is less damaging to the environment than use of paper products by adding information about the production process. If paper production is more environmentally harmful than plastic production, it supports the idea that plastics are less harmful overall.

e) The proportion of plastic trash to paper trash varies from one part of the country to another.

- This answer choice does not affect the strength of the author's argument, which is based on a national study and the national proportions of trash. While regional variation may be expected, it does not provide any additional support for the conclusion that plastics are less harmful than paper products.