LSAT Explanation PT 45, S1, Q25: Some visitors to the park engage

LSAT Question Stem

The pattern of reasoning exhibited by which one of the following arguments is most similar to that exhibited by the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel 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 passage can be broken down into the following structure:

1. Premise: Some visitors to the park engage in practices that seriously harm the animals.

2. Premise: No one who knew that these practices seriously harm the animals would engage in them.

3. Conclusion: Some of the visitors do not know that these practices seriously harm the animals.

The question type is Parallel, which means we're looking for an answer choice that exhibits a similar pattern of reasoning as the argument above.

Now let's discuss each answer choice:

a) This answer choice has a structure of "Some-All-Some," which doesn't match the original argument's structure of "Some-None-Some." Therefore, it's incorrect.

b) The structure of this answer choice is "Some-A-Some" (A being the mayor's action). Although it's a valid argument, it doesn't rely on a contrapositive like the original argument, so it's not the best match.

c) This is the correct answer. The structure of this answer choice is "Some-None-Some," which matches the original argument. Both arguments rely on a contrapositive to reach their conclusions.

d) This answer choice has a structure of "All-None-Some," which doesn't match the original argument's structure of "Some-None-Some." Therefore, it's incorrect.

e) The structure of this answer choice is "Some-All-Some," which doesn't match the original argument's structure of "Some-None-Some." Moreover, this answer choice is not a valid argument, as the conclusion should have been "some members of the Liberal Party are not members of the city council." Therefore, it's incorrect.

In summary, answer choice C is the correct answer because it has the same pattern of reasoning ("Some-None-Some") as the original argument and relies on a contrapositive to reach its conclusion.