LSAT 156 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q1

LR Question 1 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Montoya: Many industrial chemical processes that …

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

ANALYSIS: Peterson’s entire argument rests on cost. If ionic liquids are much more expensive, then companies won’t use them—that’s the objection.

So Montoya needs to respond by showing that the cost difference isn’t as bad as it seems, or that the higher upfront cost is offset somehow.

The strongest way to do that is to show that ionic liquids are not really more expensive in practice. If they can be reused many times, then their cost per use could actually be lower than organic solvents, which are used once.

That directly undercuts Peterson’s point. It doesn’t just say “cost isn’t everything”—it shows the cost comparison itself is misleading.

___________

1. This says solvents are only one expense. That’s true, but it doesn’t show ionic liquids aren’t still significantly more expensive overall.
2. This talks about removing by-products, which doesn’t address Peterson’s cost objection.
3. This is about adoption of new techniques generally, not about whether ionic liquids are practical given their cost.
4. CORRECT. If ionic liquids can be reused many times, their effective cost may be much lower, directly weakening Peterson’s argument.
5. This suggests companies might accept slightly higher costs, but Peterson says ionic liquids cost many times more, so this doesn’t really address the scale of the objection.