LSAT 6 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q26

LR Question 26 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Proposals for extending the United States school year…

QUESTION TYPE: Method of Reasoning

OBJECTION: Extending summer vacation would violate a long standing tradition in the United States.

COUNTER TO THE OBJECTION: The original reason for the tradition was to help the economy.

ANALYSIS: The objection is that changing the length of vacation would go against tradition.

The argument responds by defining tradition in a different way. We should ask what the original intent of the tradition was.

___________

1. The stimulus agrees that schools have always been closed for three months. It just thinks its important to look at the reason why.
2. The argument does think that historical practices are relevant. It’s just that they think the original reasons for those practices are relevant.
3. CORRECT. Yes. We should understand the school break as a “help the economy” period rather than a “three months of laziness period.”
4. The argument does think the opponents are concerned with tradition. But it also thinks its opponents are misguided about what tradition should mean.
5. The argument said “if any policy could be justified by tradition.” It’s by no means certain that there is any policy that could be justified.

Recap: The question begins with “Proposals for extending the United States school year”. It is a Method of Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Method of Reasoning questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.