LSAT Explanation PT 45, S4, Q22: The only preexisting recordings that are

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion 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 E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The passage presents two premises and one conclusion:

Premise 1: The only preexisting recordings that are transferred onto compact disc are those that record companies believe will sell well enough on compact disc to be profitable.

Premise 2: Few classic jazz recordings are played on the radio.

Conclusion: Most classic jazz recordings will not be transferred onto compact disc.

The structure of the argument is based on the idea that radio play influences the record companies' decisions about which recordings to transfer onto compact discs. The argument assumes that if a recording is not played on the radio, record companies will not believe it to be profitable if transferred to compact disc.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Do record companies only consider recordings played on the radio as potentially profitable when transferred to compact discs?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and the answer choices. The question type is Sufficient Assumption, which asks us to identify the answer choice that, if assumed, would make the conclusion logically follow from the premises.

a) This answer choice suggests that few of the preexisting recordings that record companies believe can be profitably transferred to compact disc are classic jazz recordings. However, this doesn't directly address the relationship between radio play and profitability, so it doesn't help to strengthen the argument.

b) This answer choice talks about the radio play of compact discs featuring classic jazz recordings. However, the argument is about whether the recordings will be transferred to compact discs in the first place, not about whether those compact discs will be played on the radio. Hence, this answer choice is not relevant to the argument.

c) This answer choice states that the only recordings that are played on the radio are ones that record companies believe can be profitably sold as compact discs. While this might seem similar to the missing assumption, it is not the same. This answer choice tells us about the necessary condition for a song to be played on the radio, whereas the missing assumption concerns the necessary condition for a song not played on the radio to be considered unprofitable.

d) This answer choice suggests that most record companies are more interested in making a profit than preserving classic jazz recordings. While this might be true, it doesn't directly address the relationship between radio play and the decision to transfer recordings onto compact discs. Thus, it doesn't help to strengthen the argument.

e) This answer choice states that no recording that is not played on the radio is one that record companies believe would be profitable if transferred to compact disc. This directly addresses the missing assumption in the argument, as it establishes the necessary condition for a recording not played on the radio to be considered unprofitable. Therefore, this answer choice strengthens the argument and is the correct answer.