LSAT 5 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q3

LR Question 3 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: In order to help the economy of Plainsville, I am…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: The mayor has interests other than the economy in mind (he doesn’t care about the economy)

REASONING: The mayor is building a highway rather than a business park. The citizens’ group claims that a business park would bring in twice the business as the highway.

ANALYSIS: It is possible the mayor doesn’t care about the economy and is lying about why he supports a highway.

Yet people can disagree on which of two proposals would be more effective. It could be that the mayor thinks a highway would be better for the economy than the business park.

For this question, it is important to note how specific the conclusion is: the mayor doesn’t care about the economy.

___________

1. Not necessary. A new highway could still bring in business even if there is already a highway (the citizens group does believe the highway will bring in some business.)
2. CORRECT. If the mayor doesn’t think the business park is a better idea, then he could support the highway out of an honest belief that it would be good for the economy.
3. This is an extreme statement. The citizens’ group actually admits the highway will bring some benefits, just less benefits than the business park.
4. This is irrelevant. The mayor clearly has some decision making power.
5. The citizens’ group is assuming this isn’t true. They admit that the highway will bring in some business, just less of it.

Recap: The question begins with “In order to help the economy of Plainsville”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.