LSAT 138 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q3

LR Question 3 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The level of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere is…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be True

FACTS:

1. Regulations followed ➞ Less sulfur dioxide
2. There is more sulfur dioxide than before

ANALYSIS: It sounds like the interior ministry’s regulations for coal plants have not been followed. That’s what we can conclude from the contrapositive of the first statement above: Less sulfur dioxide ➞ Regulations followed

___________

1. We don’t know what will happen in the future. We only know what should have happened in the past if the regulations had been followed.
2. CORRECT. See the analysis above. If there’s not less sulfur dioxide, then there must have been violations.
3. We don’t know. Maybe stronger regulations would force compliance.
4. We only know coal plants are a source of sulfur dioxide pollution. It’s possible that other pollutants are more common and come from other sources.
5. This isn’t true. If the penalties for violations were increased, maybe the regulations would start working.