LSAT 118 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q22

LR Question 22 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The only preexisting recordings that are transferred onto …

QUESTION TYPE: Sufficient Assumption

CONCLUSION: Most classic jazz recordings won’t be transferred onto CD.

REASONING: A recording is transferred onto CD only if record companies believe it will be profitable. Few classic jazz recordings are played on the radio.

ANALYSIS: The first sentence gives us a rule:

• Transferred to CD → believed profitable.
• The contrapositive is: NOT believed profitable → NOT transferred to CD.

Then they apply this to jazz recordings. The second sentence gives us:

• Few played on radio (i.e. NOT played on radio) → NOT transferred to CD.

So we have:

1. NOT believed profitable → NOT transferred to CD
2. NOT played on radio → NOT transferred to CD.

For the rule in the first sentence to apply to the jazz situation, we need to know how radio and profitability connect. We need something to say: NOT played on radio → NOT believed profitable.

If we get that connection, then we can chain everything together: Jazz NOT played on radio → NOT believed profitable → NOT transferred to CD.

___________

1. How many classic jazz recordings are believed profitable doesn’t help us determine the connection between profitability and radio.
2. This says few CDs featuring classic jazz are played on the radio. The argument is about recordings being played on the radio before being transferred.
3. This is an incorrect reversal. It gives: Played on radio → Believed profitable. We need either NOT radio → NOT profitable (or the contrapositive: profitable → radio).
4. Whether record companies care more about profit than preservation is irrelevant. The stimulus already tells us profitability determines transfers.
5. CORRECT. This gives us the missing link: NOT radio → NOT profitable. It allows us to get to the conclusion.