LSAT Explanation PT 36, S1, Q14: If Slater wins the election, McGuinness

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Must Be True question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the passage and break it down into its key components:

1. If Slater wins the election, McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission.

2. Yerxes is more qualified to head the planning commission since she is an architect who has been on the planning commission for fifteen years.

3. Unless the polls are grossly inaccurate, Slater will win.

The question type is a Must Be True (MBT) question, which asks us to identify the answer choice that can be properly inferred from the information given in the passage.

Now, let's examine each answer choice:

a) If the polls are grossly inaccurate, someone more qualified than McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission.

This answer choice is incorrect because it assumes that if the polls are inaccurate, Yerxes will necessarily be appointed. The passage does not provide information to support this claim.

b) McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission only if the polls are a good indication of how the election will turn out.

This answer choice is also incorrect because it suggests that McGuinness's appointment is solely dependent on the polls being accurate. While the passage does connect accurate polls to Slater's win and subsequently McGuinness's appointment, it does not establish this as the only condition for McGuinness's appointment.

c) Either Slater will win the election or Yerxes will be appointed head of the planning commission.

This answer choice is incorrect because it assumes that if Slater does not win the election, Yerxes will be appointed. The passage does not provide information to support this claim.

d) McGuinness is not an architect and has not been on the planning commission for fifteen years or more.

This answer choice is incorrect because it makes assumptions about McGuinness that are not supported by the passage. The passage only states that Yerxes is more qualified because of her background, but it does not provide information about McGuinness's qualifications.

e) If the polls are a good indication of how the election will turn out, someone less qualified than Yerxes will be appointed head of the planning commission.

This is the correct answer. If the polls are accurate, then Slater will win the election. If Slater wins, McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission. Since the passage states that Yerxes is more qualified than McGuinness, this answer choice correctly infers that someone less qualified than Yerxes (i.e., McGuinness) will be appointed head of the planning commission if the polls are accurate.

In summary, the correct answer to this MBT question is choice E, as it properly infers a conclusion based on the information provided in the passage.