LSAT 149 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q26

LR Question 26 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Decreased reliance on fossil fuels is required if global warming…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Parallel Reasoning

CONCLUSION: To stop global warming, we need to offer incentives for development of alternative energy.

REASONING: We must decrease reliance on fossil fuels to stop global warming. Incentives for developing alternative energy sources would help decrease reliance. Thus, these incentives are necessary to stop global warming.

ANALYSIS: This argument mistakes something helpful as something necessary. Alternative energy sources would help decrease reliance, but we don’t necessarily need them. So it’s a mistake to say that we have to incentivize alternative energy source development.

We are looking for an answer that follows this pattern:

A is required for B.

C is helpful for A.

Thus, C is required for B.

___________

1. This doesn’t match the flaw, and is actually a fine argument. A causes B and B causes C, so A will cause C.
2. This is a different flaw. This answer mistakes a sufficient condition as necessary. Daily exercise leads to good health, but isn’t required for it.
   The stimulus was mistaking a condition that was merely helpful for necessary (helpful but not sufficient).
3. This doesn’t match. It actually works as an argument. Professional job ➞ going to college ➞ graduating to high school
4. CORRECT. We need good teachers to improve education. Better salaries helps to have good teachers. But this doesn’t mean better salaries are required for improved education. This matches our flaw. Here’s it matched to the structure in the analysis above:
    
   Keeping Good teachers (A) is required for improving education (B)
   Higher salaries (C) is helpful for keeping good teachers (A)
   Thus, higher salaries (C) are necessary for improving education (B)
5. This doesn’t match the flaw. It basically says:
    
   A requires B. (prevent abuse ➞ expand education)
   B requires C. (expand education ➞ cooperation)
   So if C is true, A will be true. (cooperation ➞ prevent abuse)
    
   This is a flaw (mistaking a necessary condition as sufficient) but it isn’t the same as our flaw.

Recap: The question begins with “Decreased reliance on fossil fuels is required if global warming”. It is a Flawed Parallel Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flawed Parallel questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.