LSAT 154 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q3

LR Question 3 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Near-Earth objects (NEOs) such as asteroids threaten…

QUESTION TYPE: Role in Argument

CONCLUSION: Near-Earth Object (NEO) research is not a waste of money.

REASONING: The goal of NEO research is an attempt to prevent an NEO from destroying the Earth. This is like getting home insurance, which is a good idea for your home.

ANALYSIS: This is an argument by analogy. The author is saying NEO research is like home insurance. But….should you get home insurance? Unless we know that, we don’t know whether we ought to fund NEO research.

That’s the role of the statement in question. It tells us that home insurance is good. And so NEO research, which is like home insurance, is also good.

___________

1. CORRECT. See the analysis above. Saying that house insurance is good helps connect the analogy to NEO research: NEO insurance must also be good, since it is like house insurance.
2. Nonsense. The argument is about NEO research! Houses are just an analogy.
3. This didn’t happen.
    
   Example of answer: House insurance definition: something you buy which pays you money if your house has a problem.
4. There’s no contrast. The author says that both house insurance and NEO research are sensible investments to protect the place we live. Instead of a contrast, this argument uses an analogy.
5. This answer has things backwards. The author uses house insurance to support her argument about NEO research.

Recap: The question begins with “Near-Earth objects (NEOs) such as asteroids threaten”. It is a Role in Argument question. Learn how to master LSAT Role questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.