LSAT 11 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q24

LR Question 24 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Since Mayor Drabble always repays her political debts …

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Drabble will appoint Lee to head the arts commission.

REASONING: Drabble always repays political debts ASAP. She owes Lee a lot for his support, and he wants the job.

ANALYSIS: This argument relies on the assumption that nothing else prevents Drabble from appointing Lee now. It also depends on the idea that appointing him to this role is a suitable way to repay that particular debt.

The correct assumption must bridge the gap between:

• Drabble owes Lee, and
• Drabble repays debts ASAP -> Lee will get this job.

The logic only works if there’s no other person, debt, or obstacle that would supersede or delay appointing Lee.

___________

1. CORRECT. This must be true for the conclusion to hold. If Drabble did owe someone more, and could just as easily repay them by appointing them to this job, then she might not appoint Lee.
2. It could be that she owes someone more, but can’t repay them with this position. The conclusion only requires this appointment to be the best fit for Lee’s repayment, not the biggest debt overall.
3. Too strong. The argument doesn’t need Lee to be the only willing person, just that appointing him would be a fitting way to repay his debt now.
4. We don’t need to assume this. It could be that she only appoints people who are qualified and to whom she owes a debt. The logic doesn’t require her to ignore qualifications altogether.
5. Too extreme. We don’t need this to be the only possible way to repay Lee, just that it’s a plausible and timely way. The conclusion doesn’t require exclusivity.