LR Question 8 Explanation
QUESTION TEXT: Technology is radically improving the quality of life…
QUESTION TYPE: Identify the conclusion
CONCLUSION: Technology is improving quality of life, both directly and indirectly.
REASONING: Creating technology has become a growth industry as well.
ANALYSIS: This is a subtle argument. There are two parts to the conclusion. The conclusion says “not only”. Which means that technology not only does the first thing (direct improvement), but also the second: indirect improvement, described in the rest of the argument.
The author doesn’t bother to prove that technology leads to direct improvements. They view this as obvious. Nonetheless, this is fairly viewed as part of the conclusion, because:
- It’s something the author claims is true, and
- It’s not something the author uses to support another claim (so it’s not a premise)
This is, as far as I know, a unique argument structure. I haven’t seen it before. LSAC probably noticed that identify the conclusion questions had gotten too easy. So rather than looking for structure, the real underlying skill is asking “What is the author trying to tell me”. If you think about that, it’s much clearer that the claim is “technology has both direct and indirect benefits”.
This question is doubly unique in that a trap answer uses “either or”, in an exclusive sense, whereas the conclusion uses the regular, inclusive “or”. I’ve never seen an LSAT question actually test this distinction before.
___________
- CORRECT. The author more or less directly says this in the first sentence. However, I discussed some of the subtleties of this answer in the analysis above. The discussion above is only really relevant if you’re focussed on precise detail.
- This is evidence for the conclusion that the creation of technology benefits communities.
- Same as B. This is just evidence that the creation of technology has economic benefits.
- This is a tempting answer. But it is wrong because it says “either or”. Either or is exclusive, meaning only one of the two happens. Whereas the conclusion had the normal, inclusive or, meaning both happen. There’s no special “LSAT or” which is always inclusive regardless of context. Here’s a dictionary definition (Oxford).
Either/or: an unavoidable choice between two alternatives.
Whereas the conclusion says “not only by”, which means both the creation of technology and direct applications of technology are beneficial. - Nonsense. The author’s point is that technology has many benefits. This answer attempts to restrict the benefits. That goes against the conclusion.
More Resources for Identify the Conclusion Questions
- Intro Course lesson: This intro course lesson covers Identify the Conclusion questions.
- Mastery Seminar lesson: This LR Mastery seminar lesson covers identify the conclusion questions.
Answer D seems wrong primarily because it says “most communities” as opposed to “some communities”.
Why is either/or exclusive? Answer D could still be wrong because creation doesn’t necessarily include “design, production, and testing.” I think this answer choice is wrong because it is too limiting even if the either/or is inclusive. In logic games either/or is inclusive unless there is a “but not both” at the end of the statement.
Because Either/or presents an unavoidable choice between two options. Either/or is exclusive: you must have one, or the other, but you can’t have both. Check out this this definition from Cambridge: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/either-or
“used to refer to a situation in which there is a choice between two different plans of action, but both together are not possible”
Let’s look an example: “You can have either an apple or an orange.” Using common sense, you’d take this to mean that you can have one or another. In logic games, either/or questions are followed up with a “but not both” at the end of the statement for clarity’s sake. In any case, it presents an ultimatum and thus is exclusive.
Answer D is incorrect because of this either/or. The stimulus says that it’s possible for both the creation and direct application of new technologies to benefit communities.
Just wanted to note that D is also wrong since it refers to “most” communities when the stimulus only refers to “some.”