LSAT 107 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Charles: During recessions unemployment typically rise…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

ARGUMENTS: Charles says that recessions cause a decrease in pollution. Fewer people have jobs, so fewer people use their cars to drive to work.

Darla points out that fewer people will be able to buy new cars, so their old cars will pollute more and more as they age.

ANALYSIS: Charles isn’t making a very extreme claim. As long as there is even the slightest decrease in pollution, he is correct. So it doesn’t matter if most people don’t lose their jobs, or if few people drive to work.

As long as some people stop driving to work, his argument is fine. Assuming, of course, that those people don’t drive to other places so much that they make up for their lost commutes (answer choice D.)

___________

1. Charles is talking about people who lost their jobs, not people who have never had jobs.
2. It doesn’t matter if most air pollution comes from commuting. It’s only necessary that some pollution comes from commuting.
3. It’s only necessary that some people drive. Most people could use public transportation as long as a recession will prevent some people from commuting.
4. CORRECT. If people do drive a lot more for other reasons they pollution could increase even if people aren’t driving to work.
5. It’s only necessary that some people who commute in cars lose their jobs.

Recap: The question begins with “Charles: During recessions unemployment typically rise”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn more about LSAT Necessary questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.