LSAT 150 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q7

LR Question 7 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Geothermal power plants produce power using heat from underground…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: Geothermal advocates say that affordable geothermal energy will soon be available in most places.

REASONING: No reasoning is given. We do know that the main limit on access to geothermal is whether we can currently reach underground hot water and steam with drills.

ANALYSIS: Presumably, we can strengthen the argument by showing we’ll be able to drill deeper in the future and reach hot water and steam in more areas. Drilling was the only limit to geothermal that was mentioned.

A lot of wrong answers focus on things that are irrelevant: pollution, cost, energy, etc. You have to focus on what the conclusion says. It was only about the availability of geothermal.

___________

1. This gives us a reason to replace conventional plants with geothermal. But this is irrelevant. The conclusion was only about whether geothermal would be available.
2. This doesn’t matter. The conclusion was only about whether geothermal would be available in most areas.
3. Who cares? The argument was about the availability of geothermal, not the cost. For example, I’m sure diamonds are available in your area, even if they’re too expensive for you to buy.
4. CORRECT. This addresses the limit from the stimulus. If we can drill deeper, then maybe we can reach hot water and steam in more areas.
5. Cost doesn’t matter. The question was only about whether geothermal would be available in your area. For example, BMWs are available in your area, even if they are too expensive to buy. Whereas, in a desert, no BMVs are available.

Recap: The question begins with “Geothermal power plants produce power using heat from underground”. It is a Strengthen question. Learn how to master LSAT Strengthen questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.