LSAT 115 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q17

LR Question 17 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Columnist: Over the last 20 years the demand in North…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Producing cars with right-sided steering wheels would remove one obstacle to reducing the automotive trade imbalance.

REASONING: Japanese drive on the left side of the road.

ANALYSIS: This question is much easier if you forget all of that stuff about fuel efficiency at the start, and instead imagine what it would be like to drive a car with a right-sided steering wheel while driving on the right hand side of the road.

___________

1. Not necessary, North American cars already have the same efficiency. Even if they didn’t, better steering wheels could still remove one obstacle.
2. CORRECT. This is a necessary assumption. If the Japanese were willing to buy cars with steering wheels on the wrong side, then switching the steering wheel wouldn’t help.
3. If this were true, American car manufacturers certainly would have to switch steering wheel sides. But even if it weren’t true, they might still have to in order to meet the expectations of Japanese consumers.
4. This supports the argument, but it isn’t necessary. The argument claims that a better steering wheel would remove an obstacle. There might be other obstacles.
5. Not a necessary assumption. There are many ways to reduce the trade balance, and the stimulus only claims that this is one of them.

Recap: The question begins with “Columnist: Over the last 20 years the demand in North”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.