LSAT 104 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q12

LR Question 12 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: P: Complying with the new safety regulations is…

QUESTION TYPE: Method of Reasoning

CONCLUSION: The regulations are useful.

REASONING: Any regulations that save money are useful. The new regulations will prevent some accidents and therefore save money.

ANALYSIS: P is making a very absolutist argument. If the regulations don’t prevent the very worst accidents, they’re useless.

Q points out that the regulations will be useful as long as they do some good.

___________

1. CORRECT. P only considers the very worst accident. But Q points out that the regulations will prevent some lesser accidents.
2. Q doesn’t even mention last year’s fire.
3. P never said all regulations are useless, and Q never said whether any other regulations are useful. They’re only talking about the new lab regulations.
4. Q doesn’t say whether any regulations could have prevented the fire. He doesn’t even mention the fire.
5. This is a useful distinction, but it’s not present in the arguments. An example is: the increased safety we expect from regulations, and the safety we actually get.

Recap: The question begins with “P: Complying with the new safety regulations is”. It is a Method of Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Method of Reasoning questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.