LSAT 158 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q17

LR Question 17 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Mateo: Global warming has caused permafrost to melt under…

QUESTION TYPE: Principle

CONCLUSION: The auto industry should pay for the villagers’ relocation

FACTS:

1. Global warming melted the permafrost, which caused arctic villages to have to move.
2. Automobile pollution greatly contributes to global warming.

ANALYSIS: All we know is the car industries have some blame. And that the conclusion is they should pay. So, the assumption that connects the two is “Have blame ➞ should pay”.

The right answer needs to be in the format of “X ➞ should pay”. Answers in the form of “Should pay ➞ X” or “X ➞ should pay” cannot be right.

___________

1. The stimulus doesn’t say anything about the auto industry anticipating possible damages. So, we can’t use this to prove the conclusion. Though, this does have the right format, in that obligation to pay is the necessary: “Should have known ➞ should pay”
2. This answer choice talks about how to produce goods. But we’re trying to prove when someone should pay damages. Very different thing.
3. Government? Do we care about what the government does? No, we only care about the auto industry and whether they should pay! Eliminate.
4. CORRECT. This principle matches our prephrase and justifies why the auto industry should pay for the damage done to the arctic villages caused by automobile pollution. Contribute ➞ should pay. The auto industry did contribute, so they should pay.
5. This is wrong. This says that the auto industry would only have to pay if they had an obligation to pay for ALL global warming damage. It has “should pay” as the sufficient condition, but we need it as the necessary: should pay ➞ general obligation to pay. This answers gives the auto industry a way not to pay.

Recap: The question begins with “Mateo: Global warming has caused permafrost to melt under”. It is a Principle question. Learn how to master LSAT Principle questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.