LSAT 33, Logical Reasoning I, Q19

QUESTION TEXT: Historian: The spread of literacy informs more…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Some benign regimes may be toppled by their move to increase literacy.

REASONING: Literacy can help reform by allowing people to distinguish between true reformers and opportunists. But widespread literacy always emerges before any comprehensive general education system. So the population is temporarily vulnerable to demagogues calling for change.

ANALYSIS: The argument is claiming that a regime is vulnerable from the moment that general literacy spreads until the moment that a general education system comes into place. The argument assumes that a general education system will somehow protect against demagogues once it is in place (answer choice D.) 

___________

1. Actually the argument is assuming that a demagogue can get public support until a system of general education is put in place.
2. The argument only mentioned that literacy informs more people. There could still be a general awareness of injustice before literacy spreads.
3. A general education system could be neutral towards the authority of benign regimes. It only matters that a system of general education can blunt the appeal of demagogues. 
4. CORRECT. If a general education system doesn’t affect people’s ability to differentiate between these two groups then it’s hard to see how such a system would help protect a regime from demagogues. 
5. This isn’t necessary as long as some benign regimes could be toppled by demagogues. 

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