LSAT 111 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q18

LR Question 18 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The current pattern of human consumption of resources…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Human consumption patterns will have to change.

REASONING: We rely on non-renewable resources such as metal ore. We’ll either have to stop using those resources or replace them with renewable resources.

ANALYSIS: This argument sounds good. The right answer presents a third option that wrecks the argument: we can constantly shift between non-renewable resources.

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1. This isn’t necessary, we have another option: “doing without” the resources.
2. CORRECT. The argument presents two options: doing without or replacement with renewables. Its assuming this third option is unavailable (replacement with non-renewables) 
3. Same as A. If a non-renewable resource is exhausted then we still have the option of doing without.
4. The author would be fine with consumption increasing in the near future. He’s arguing that things must eventually change, in the long run.
5. The argument is arguing that we could do without non-renewable resources.