LSAT 3 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q3

LR Question 3 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: In Europe, schoolchidlren devote time during each school day…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: North American children can be made physically fit only if they adopt a regime of calisthenics.

REASONING: European schoolchildren do calisthenics, and they are stronger, faster and longer winded than American children. American children do not do calisthenics.

ANALYSIS: This is a terrible argument. First, it makes a causation-correlation error. There could be some factor apart from calisthenics that explains the superior fitness of European children.

Second, even if calisthenics is responsible for the improvement, there are likely other ways for American schoolchildren to improve their fitness apart from calisthenics. The argument claims it is the only way.

___________

1. The argument is restricted to schoolchildren, in America and Europe. It makes no claims about other children.
2. Same as A.
3. We have no idea. The stimulus didn’t mention superior overall health.
4. CORRECT. If this isn’t true, then there might be other ways of matching European schoolchildren’s levels of fitness. The stimulus claims that calisthenics are the only way for North American schoolchildren to become as fit as Europeans.
5. It isn’t necessary that they eat a better diet as long as calisthenics are enough to get North American schoolchildren fit.

Recap: The question begins with “In Europe, schoolchidlren devote time during each school day”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.