LSAT 108 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q12

LR Question 12 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Geologist: A geological fault in the mountain …

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: We shouldn’t put the nuclear waste facility under this mountain until scientists check whether the mountain has geological faults.

REASONING: If the mountain has a fault, the waste could eventually leak out or water could leak in. Nuclear waste stays dangerous for up to 25,000 years, so seepage would be disastrous.

ANALYSIS: The geologist is recommending an investigation before using the site. That recommendation gets stronger if the investigation would actually answer the key question: Does this mountain have geological faults or not?

If the investigation couldn’t reliably tell us that, then requiring it would be less useful.

___________

1. This doesn’t strengthen the argument. Even if human civilization may no longer exist in a few thousand years, nuclear waste leaking would still be a serious danger.
2. CORRECT. If the investigation would conclusively show whether the mountain has faults, then it makes sense to wait for that investigation before storing dangerous waste there.
3. What the facility was originally intended for doesn’t matter. The issue is whether it’s safe for nuclear waste.
4. This weakens the practical case for doing the investigation because it makes the proposal much more expensive.
5. Temporary storage doesn’t address the geologist’s concern about long-term seepage from faults.