LSAT 8 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q15

LR Question 15 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Economist: Some policymakers believe that our country’s…

QUESTION TYPE: Method of Reasoning

FACTS: In the past, tax free savings programs have not led to an increase in savings. Instead people moved money they had already been saving.

ANALYSIS: The past cannot be a 100% predictor of the future. However, it can support a prediction about the future.

The author’s method of reasoning is to critique the present proposal by describing a similar (and failed) situation from the past.

___________

1. CORRECT. This is actually the correct answer. The premise is the tax program will lead to more savings for banks to use. The stimulus challenges this premise by pointing out that similar programs in the past did not lead to increased savings.
2. The stimulus didn’t mention any politicians who disagreed with the proposal.
3. The stimulus doesn’t claim the program can’t be done. It claims that it won’t work, even if it is implemented.
4. This is very tempting, but the stimulus doesn’t say that the policymakers supported the proposal in the past. We don’t know when the savings program was implemented in the past. It could have been 100 years ago, before the current policymakers were born.
5. The stimulus’ author might think that savings is desirable. His main point is that this program won’t work to increase savings.

Recap: The question begins with “Economist: Some policymakers believe that our country’s”. It is a Method of Reasoning question. Learn how to master LSAT Method of Reasoning questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.