LSAT 156 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: A law is futile unless most of the parties subject to it …

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: There can be no comprehensive international solution to pollution.

REASONING: A law only works if most parties willingly follow it, and few nations would give up control over their industries.

ANALYSIS: The argument is saying: international solutions would require nations to give up control, but they won’t do that willingly, so no solution will work.

But there’s a key assumption built in: that any comprehensive solution would actually require nations to give up that control. If that’s not true—if a solution could exist without requiring that sacrifice—then the argument falls apart.

So the reasoning depends on linking those two ideas: comprehensive solution → loss of control over industries.

___________

1. This is about changes in law, which isn’t necessary for the argument’s logic.
2. CORRECT. This states that a comprehensive solution would require nations to give up power, which the argument relies on.
3. This reverses the reasoning. It talks about willingness leading to a solution, not whether a solution requires giving up power.
4. Irrelevant. It describes who produces pollution, not what’s required for a solution.
5. This is about current laws, which doesn’t affect what a comprehensive solution would require.