LSAT Explanation PT 43, S2, Q18: Editorial: It is clear that what

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion drawn by the editorial follows logically if it is assumed that what is called "health education" usually 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

This is a Sufficient Assumption question, which means we need to find the answer choice that, when combined with the information in the passage, proves the conclusion to be true.

First, let's analyze the passage and identify its structure. The conclusion of the argument is that "health education" is usually propaganda rather than education. The premises supporting this conclusion are:

1. Propaganda and education are never the same thing.

2. Propaganda influences behavior through the repetition of simplistic slogans.

3. Education never involves the repetition of simplistic slogans.

4. Education offers information in all its complexity, leaving it up to the individual to decide how to act on that information.

5. Propaganda is much more successful than education.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Does 'health education' attempt to influence behavior by repeating simplistic slogans?"

Now, let's go through the answer choices:

a) If health education usually "does not leave it up to the individual to decide how to act on information," it means that it is unlike education. However, this does not conclusively prove that health education is propaganda, as it could be neither education nor propaganda.

b) Proving that health education is unlike education is not sufficient for the conclusion to be logically drawn. This answer choice does not prove that health education must be propaganda.

c) This answer choice is the opposite of what we're looking for. If health education does not involve the repetition of simplistic slogans, then it is not propaganda. It may be education or something else altogether.

d) This is the correct answer choice. If health education attempts to influence behavior solely by repeating simplistic slogans, then the conclusion that health education is propaganda can be logically drawn.

e) This answer choice may seem appealing since it agrees with one of the premises in the passage ("propaganda is much more successful than education"). However, just because propaganda is more successful than education, it cannot be logically concluded that propaganda is very successful. We should not confuse relative and absolute statements. Moreover, this answer choice does not prove that health education is propaganda, which is the ultimate goal in a Sufficient Assumption question.