LSAT 157 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q6

LR Question 6 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Winchester Township cannot afford to keep its several small…

QUESTION TYPE: Weaken

CONCLUSION: Winchester would better meet residents’ needs if the small branch libraries were closed and one larger, well-supplied library were opened.

REASONING: Winchester Township cannot afford to keep all the small branches supplied with a diverse selection of books. If the branch libraries were closed, the township could open a large library with a broad and current selection.

ANALYSIS: The argument tells us that the small library branches generally have worse selection than a large library would. The author then concludes that a large library would better meet needs.

Sure, part of the residents’ needs probably includes being well-supplied with a broad selection. But what if there were other needs? Maybe a large library doesn’t meet all the needs – if not, the argument would certainly be weakened.

___________

1. This doesn’t weaken the argument, and actually is a point against the small branch libraries.
2. Like A, this reinforces that the branch libraries are not meeting needs.
3. CORRECT. This tells us that a large library is not universally better at meeting needs than the smaller branches.
4. It would cost money to open a large library, but maybe that’s offset by the benefit of the library. A more expensive library isn’t necessarily worse at meeting needs.
5. If each branch library attempts to cater to the whole township’s needs, then that means they’re a bit redundant with each other. This is actually a point against the branch libraries! Alternatively, if each branch library catered to its particular local group, it would show that the branches have value a large library doesn’t have. But that’s not what the answer says.

Recap: The question begins with “Winchester Township cannot afford to keep its several small”. It is a Weaken question. Learn more about LSAT Weaken questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.