LSAT 23 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q7

LR Question 7 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Studies indicate that the rate at which water pollution…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Water pollution won’t get any worse.

REASONING: The rate at which the problem is getting worse isn’t increasing.

ANALYSIS: This argument confuses rate and amount. Suppose I give you $1 million per year, every year. The rate at which I give you money isn’t increasing. But the amount of money you get have keeps getting larger, as long as you spend fewer than $1 million each year. You get richer, even if you’re not getting richer any faster.

Likewise, the water pollution problem is still getting worse, even if it isn’t getting worse any faster.

___________

1. We don’t care what water pollution does. The argument was about whether there will be more of it.
2. Same as A.
3. The conclusion clearly says “If this trend continues”. The author agrees it’s possible the trend won’t continue.
4. We’re talking about water pollution, not other types of pollution.
5. CORRECT. Cumulative means: if you add more pollution, the water pollution will get worse. This is true. If you keep adding sewage at the same rate, the water will get more polluted.

Recap: The question begins with “Studies indicate that the rate at which water pollution”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn how to master LSAT Flaw questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.