LSAT Explanation PT 43, S2, Q14: Resident: Residents of this locale should

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, does the most to justify the conclusion of the resident's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The resident is arguing that the loss of farming as a way of life should not be considered a tragedy for the residents of the locale. The premise supporting this conclusion is that the area was economically depressed when it was a rural area, but now it has become a growing high-tech industry hub with high-wage jobs, supporting over 20 times the number of jobs it did when it was primarily agricultural.

To make this argument more accessible, let's use a simple example. Imagine a small town where most people were once employed as farmers. Over time, the town transformed into a thriving tech hub, with many more job opportunities and higher salaries. The resident argues that this change should not be seen as a tragedy, even though the town lost its rural, farming-based way of life.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do the residents value economic prosperity more than their rural way of life?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice for the question, which is a Strengthen question, asking us to find the option that provides additional support for the conclusion.

a) This answer choice explains that farming is becoming more efficient, requiring fewer farms to produce the same amount of food. However, it does not strengthen the conclusion that the loss of farming as a way of life is not tragic. It does not address the residents' preferences or feelings towards the change.

b) This answer choice suggests that high-tech industry development is more valuable to national security than farming. While it might be true, it does not address the residents' feelings about the loss of farming as a way of life and whether they consider it a tragedy.

c) This is the correct answer choice. It directly addresses the "Evaluate" question we identified earlier. If residents do not value a rural way of life more than economic prosperity, then they are more likely to agree with the conclusion that the loss of farming as a way of life is not a tragedy.

d) This answer choice states that many residents have higher annual incomes than before. While this information might be true, it does not address whether the residents consider the loss of farming as a way of life to be tragic or not. It only focuses on the financial aspect, ignoring other non-monetary benefits that might come from a rural lifestyle.

e) This answer choice actually weakens the conclusion, as it suggests that the loss of a family farm can be perceived as tragic even without financial hardship. This implies that there might be other non-monetary values associated with farming that the residents might miss, making the loss of farming as a way of life a tragedy.