LSAT 5 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: School superintendent: It is a sad fact that, until now…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Parents previously denied the option of sending their children to the best high school now can.

REASONING: The new superintendent has replaced a (high) tuition requirement with a residency requirement. Only those who live in the surrounding neighborhood can attend the school.

ANALYSIS: This mirrors the actual education situation in the United States. Many of the best schools use residency requirements. So rich people move near the best schools and drive up real estate prices. The result is that the poor are still excluded.

The conclusion isn’t about how many poor people will now go to the school. It only claims that some poor people will now have the possibility of attending.

___________

1. The principle is likely assuming that not all of the residents are wealthy and that many poorer families live nearby as well. Otherwise poor people will still be excluded.
2. CORRECT. If this isn’t true, the only children eligible to attend school will be those children whose families are wealthy enough to have paid the tuition in the past. The poor will still be excluded.
3. It’s not necessary that poorer people are in the majority. It is only necessary that there are at least some of them.
4. Not necessary. The superintendent was only making a conclusion about his requirement. Any poorer people living in the area will now be able to attend, whether or not there are any other high schools.
5. It’s not necessary that there are many people. It is only necessary that there are some people.

Recap: The question begins with “School superintendent: It is a sad fact that, until now”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn more about LSAT Necessary questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.