LSAT 109 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q5

LR Question 5 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The main conclusion of the argument is…

QUESTION TYPE: Main Point

CONCLUSION: Plastics do less harm to the environment than paper does.

REASONING: Plastics make up a smaller portion of trash than paper (whether measured by weight or by volume.) The damage that a given amount of trash does is about the same whether the trash is paper or plastic.

ANALYSIS: The main point is that plastic is currently less harmful than paper, despite the fact that many people think otherwise.

___________

1. This is true but it isn’t the main point. The argument goes on to note that this makes plastics less harmful overall.
2. The argument doesn’t even talk about the weight-volume ratio. The main point is that plastic is less harmful than paper.
3. This is true but its only part of the main point. The main point is that popular opinion is wrong and plastics are less harmful.
4. This isn’t necessarily true. We might need a lot more plastic if we replaced printer paper with plastic paper (for example.)
5. CORRECT. Currently plastic is less harmful than paper, because it constitutes less of our garbage.