LSAT Explanation PT 40, S3, Q13: Britain is now rabies free. Nevertheless,

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an argumentative strategy employed in the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Method of Reasoning question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

To understand this LSAT problem, let's first analyze the argument's structure and label each part as either a premise or a conclusion. Remember, an argument only has one conclusion.

Argument Structure:

1. Premise: Britain is now rabies free.

2. Premise: Britain's strict quarantine of imported domesticated animals is designed to prevent widespread outbreaks of rabies.

3. Premise: Bats are very susceptible to rabies and fly into Britain from continental Europe.

4. Premise: Wild bats cannot be quarantined.

5. Sub-Conclusion: The quarantine policy cannot control rabies spread by wild bats.

6. Main Conclusion: The strict quarantine policy cannot succeed indefinitely in preventing widespread outbreaks of rabies.

The question type for this problem is Method of Reasoning (MOR), and it asks us to identify the argumentative strategy employed in the argument. Let's examine each answer choice in detail.

a) This answer choice suggests that the argument is trying to undermine support for the quarantine policy by pointing out that factors other than the policy itself could account for the results attributed to that policy. However, this is not the case. The argument is not focused on undermining support for the policy, but rather on pointing out the limitations of the policy due to the uncontrolled spread of rabies by wild bats. This answer choice is incorrect.

b) This answer choice suggests that the argument raises a possible objection to the quarantine policy to show that the objection is irrelevant to the situation the policy was designed to address. However, the argument is actually doing the opposite - it raises the issue of wild bats to show that this factor is relevant and limits the effectiveness of the policy. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) This answer choice suggests that the argument provides evidence that the policy's enforcement officials often fail to perform their duty, leading to the policy's limited effect. However, the argument does not mention any issues with the enforcement officials. Instead, it focuses on the inability to quarantine wild bats as the reason for the policy's limitations. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) This answer choice suggests that the argument shows that because the quarantine policy is not universally adopted, it cannot accomplish its goal. However, the argument does not discuss the universal adoption of the policy. It focuses on the issue of wild bats flying into Britain from continental Europe, which would remain a problem even if the policy were universally adopted. This answer choice is incorrect.

e) This answer choice is correct. The argument states that the quarantine policy is bound to fail because an event (wild bats flying into Britain) that is likely to defeat the aim of the policy (preventing widespread rabies outbreaks) falls outside the policy's influence. The argument highlights the limitations of the policy due to its inability to control the spread of rabies by wild bats, which ultimately leads to the conclusion that the policy cannot succeed indefinitely in preventing widespread outbreaks of rabies.