LSAT Explanation PT 44, S2, Q9: In addition to the labor and

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Necessary Assumption, which means we need to find the assumption on which the argument depends.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage states that the price of wine is determined by labor, materials, and the reputation of the vineyard. The conclusion is that an expensive wine is not always a good wine, implying that sometimes the reputation of a vineyard can lead to a high price even if the quality is low.

To simplify this concept, imagine you're shopping for a pair of sneakers. The price of the sneakers depends on the materials used, the labor involved in making them, and the reputation of the brand. Just because a pair of sneakers is expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's of high quality; it could be that the brand's reputation is inflating the price.

Now let's create an "Evaluate" question for the argument: "Does the reputation of a vineyard always reflect the quality of its wines?" The answer to this question will help us determine if the argument is valid or not.

Let's examine each answer choice:

a) The price of a bottle of wine should be a reflection of the wine's quality.

This answer choice is not an assumption the author relies on, as it discusses what "should be" rather than what "is." The argument is not affected when this assumption is removed, so it is incorrect.

b) Price is never an accurate indication of the quality of a bottle of wine.

The author concludes that expense is not always a good indicator of quality, not that it is never a good indicator. This assumption is not required for the argument, so it is incorrect.

c) The reputation of a vineyard does not always indicate the quality of its wines.

This is the correct answer choice. The author implies that in some cases, the prices of wines from well-known vineyards are high due to their reputation, despite their low quality. If we negate this assumption (i.e., "The reputation of a vineyard always reflects the quality of its wines"), the author's argument is weakened, confirming that this is the necessary assumption.

d) The reputation of a vineyard generally plays a greater role than the quality of its grapes in determining its wines' prices.

The author's argument doesn't rely on the assumption that reputation plays a greater role than other factors, just that reputation can make some wines expensive despite lower quality. Negating this assumption doesn't hurt the author's conclusion, so it is incorrect.

e) Wines produced by lesser-known vineyards generally are priced to reflect accurately the wines' quality.

This answer choice does not affect the argument, as it discusses the pricing methods of lesser-known vineyards, which is not relevant to the argument. Thus, it is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (c): "The reputation of a vineyard does not always indicate the quality of its wines."