LSAT Explanation PT 36, S1, Q16: A number of measures indicate the

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the passage. It states that several measures indicate the viability of a nation's economy, with the level and rate of growth of aggregate output being the most significant indicators. Unemployment and inflation rates are also important. The passage then lists six countries with viable economies, mentioning that none of them have very large populations. Switzerland and Austria have populations of about seven million, while the other countries have smaller populations.

To simplify this information, imagine a group of people trying to build a sandcastle. The size and speed at which they build the sandcastle (aggregate output) are the most important factors in determining their success, but how many people are standing around not helping (unemployment) and how many sandcastles have already been built (inflation) also matter. The passage then tells us about six successful sandcastle-building teams, none of which have many members.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Most Strongly Supported (MSS) question, which means we need to find the answer choice that is most strongly supported by the information given in the passage.

a) A nation's economic viability is independent of the size of its population.

While the passage does mention that the countries with viable economies don't have large populations, it doesn't provide enough information to conclude that economic viability is completely independent of population size. This answer choice might be tempting, but it goes beyond what the passage supports.

b) Having a population larger than seven million ensures that a nation will be economically viable.

The passage doesn't provide any information about countries with populations larger than seven million, so we can't make this conclusion.

c) Economic viability does not require a population of at least seven million.

This answer choice is supported by the passage, as it lists countries with viable economies that have populations smaller than seven million. This means that a population of at least seven million is not a requirement for economic viability.

d) A nation's population is the most significant contributor to the level and rate of growth of aggregate output.

The passage states that the level and rate of growth of aggregate output are the most significant indicators of economic viability, but it doesn't say that population is the most significant contributor to those factors. We can't conclude this from the information given.

e) A nation's population affects the level and rate of growth of aggregate output more than it affects unemployment and inflation rates.

The passage doesn't provide any information about how population size affects aggregate output, unemployment, or inflation rates, so we can't make this conclusion.

Based on our analysis, the correct answer is C, as it is the most strongly supported by the information in the passage.