LSAT 112 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q6

LR Question 6 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Commissioner: Budget forecasters project a revenue shortfall…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: We will be able to solve the problem only by adopting this plan.

REASONING: There will be a 1 billion dollar revenue shortfall. We can’t raise funds. Therefore we must cut expenditures. This plan cuts expenditures.

ANALYSIS: The commissioner is correct that the only way to balance the budget is to decrease expenditures. But they are incorrect to assume that this particular plan is the only plan that could work.

There are many ways to cut costs.

___________

1. The information sounds reasonably certain. We have no indication that the forecasters are wrong.
2. CORRECT. The commissioner’s solution is adequate. But it isn’t required: there could be other plans that would also work. 
3. The experts are experts on forecasting the budget. They have relevant expertise and it’s reasonable to rely on them.
4. There’s no vague language. The commissioner is clear that there is a problem and that only his plan can solve it.
5. You might think that this is a flaw, but on the LSAT we take people at their word. If the commissioner says there is no way to increase funds, then there is no way to increase funds.