LSAT Explanation PT 41, S3, Q19: Renting cars from dealerships is less
LSAT Question Stem
Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument EXCEPT:
Logical Reasoning Question Type
This is a Strengthen question.
Correct Answer
The correct answer to this question is E.
LSAT Question Complete Explanation
The passage presents an argument that renting cars from dealerships is generally more worthwhile for local residents than for tourists. The structure of the argument is as follows:
Premise 1: Renting cars from dealerships is less expensive than renting cars from national rental firms.
Premise 2: Tourists must determine which local dealerships offer rentals.
Premise 3: Tourists must pay for long taxi rides between the airport and those dealerships.
Conclusion: Renting from dealerships rather than national rental firms is generally more worthwhile for local residents than for tourists.
An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do the savings from renting cars from dealerships outweigh the costs of taxi rides and the effort of finding local dealerships for tourists?"
The question type for this problem is Strengthen, and we are asked to find the answer choice that does NOT strengthen the argument.
Answer choice (A): This strengthens the argument because if car dealerships provide free drop off and pick up for local residents, it makes it more worthwhile for them to rent from dealerships than national rental firms.
Answer choice (B): This strengthens the argument because if rental firms provide tourists with free rides to and from the airport, it makes renting from national rental firms more convenient and cost-effective for tourists.
Answer choice (C): This strengthens the argument because if tourists have difficulty finding information about which local car dealerships offer rentals, it supports the premise that renting from dealerships is less convenient for tourists.
Answer choice (D): This strengthens the argument because if local residents know which dealerships offer low-priced rentals, they are more likely to choose renting from dealerships over national rental firms.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice because it does not strengthen the argument. If local residents pay as much for taxi rides to local car dealerships as they do when renting from a firm, it is unclear why they would choose to rent from dealerships. The special rates might still make it worth their while, but we cannot be sure. Since this answer provides no support for the author's conclusion, it is the correct choice.