LSAT 155 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q18

LR Question 18 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Certain changes in North American residential architecture …

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: Certain changes in North American residential architecture (lower ceilings and thinner walls) after WWII are primarily because of air-conditioning becoming more available and affordable.

REASONING: Soon after the war, many builders found that air conditioned houses generally sold well, even though they lacked the high ceilings and thick walls that normally kept residents cool.

ANALYSIS: The author says that people stopped wanting high ceilings and thick walls because of air conditioning. The evidence is that air conditioned houses sold well even though they lacked those features.

The conclusion is that this was because of air conditioning. To weaken it, we want to show that air conditioning isn’t the cause.

___________

1. Even if this is true, it doesn’t change the fact that houses without the features sold well.
2. This gives us a reason for why people would want to keep the old features. It doesn’t give an alternate explanation for why people were switching.
3. CORRECT. This answer tells us that low ceilings and thin walls were popular even where people didn’t get air-conditioning. This pushes back on the idea that people wanted these things because of air-conditioning.
4. This, like A and B, gives a reason for why people may want to keep the old features. It doesn’t explain the switch.
5. This doesn’t change the fact that people gave up their old features for houses with air-conditioning.

Recap: The question begins with “Certain changes in North American residential architecture “. It is a Weaken question. Learn more about LSAT Weaken questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.