LSAT Explanation PT 44, S2, Q13: The solution to any environmental problem

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion drawn in the argument above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage and discuss its structure. The argument is as follows:

Premise 1: The solution to any non-government-caused environmental problem can only lie in major changes in consumer habits (MC).

Premise 2: Major changes in consumer habits will occur only if they are economically enticing (EE).

Conclusion: Few serious ecological problems will be solved unless the solutions are made economically enticing.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Are most serious ecological problems the result of non-government-caused environmental problems?"

The question type for this LSAT problem is a Sufficient Assumption question, which asks us to identify an assumption that, if true, would guarantee the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

Let's go through the answer choices:

a) Few serious ecological problems are the result of government mismanagement.

This is the correct answer choice. If we assume that most serious ecological problems are not caused by government mismanagement, then the premises in the stimulus justify the author's conclusion. In other words, if most major problems are indeed non-government-caused, then they will require economic enticement to be solved, which is consistent with the conclusion in the passage.

b) No environmental problems that stem from government mismanagement have solutions that are economically feasible.

This answer choice is incorrect because it discusses environmental problems caused by government mismanagement, while the passage focuses on non-government-caused problems. This choice does not address the gap in the argument.

c) Major changes in consumer habits can be made economically enticing.

This answer choice is incorrect because it concerns the feasibility of offering economic enticements, while the passage focuses on whether enticements are necessary. This choice does not address the gap in the argument.

d) Most environmental problems that are not the result of government mismanagement are major ecological problems.

This answer choice is incorrect because it addresses the proportion of non-government-caused environmental problems that are major, but it does not provide any required link between the variables in the passage.

e) Few serious ecological problems can be solved by major changes in consumer habits.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument in the passage does not concern whether changes in consumer habits are sufficient to solve the most serious problems, but rather whether major changes are necessary to solve those problems. This choice does not address the gap in the argument.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (a), as it fills the gap in the argument and allows the conclusion to logically follow from the premises.