LSAT Explanation PT 22, S2, Q7: Newsletter for community-center volunteers: Retired persons

LSAT Question Stem

The inference drawn above is unwarranted because 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's break down the argument in the passage. The passage states that retired persons who regularly volunteer display fewer and milder effects of aging than their non-volunteering contemporaries. The passage then concludes that volunteering can benefit one's own well-being. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise: Retired persons who regularly volunteer have better social resources, mental outlook, physical health, economic resources, and overall functioning than non-volunteers.

Conclusion: Volunteering can benefit one's own well-being.

To make this more relatable, let's use a simple example. Imagine a group of retired people who regularly help at a local community center. They seem to be healthier, happier, and more active than their peers who don't volunteer. The passage suggests that volunteering is the reason for their improved well-being.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Is there any other factor that could explain the better well-being of the volunteers?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Flaw question, and we need to identify the reason why the inference drawn in the passage is unwarranted.

Answer Choice (A): While it's true that the center may have a self-interested motive to attract new volunteers, this doesn't necessarily make the inference unwarranted. Just because the group reporting information has some type of bias, it doesn't automatically make the information untrue.

Answer Choice (B): There's no problem with interpreting "well-being" to include these various factors. This answer choice doesn't address the cause and effect issue in the argument.

Answer Choice (C): The fact that some non-volunteers might be older than some volunteers doesn't diminish the information that volunteers generally display fewer and milder effects of aging. This answer choice doesn't address the flaw in the argument.

Answer Choice (D): While growing older might not necessarily result in a change in mental outlook, this answer choice doesn't address the volunteers' relative strength in the other areas. Additionally, it doesn't address the cause and effect issue in the argument.

Answer Choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It suggests that the cause and effect relationship in the argument might be reversed. Instead of volunteering causing better well-being, it could be that those with better resources, health, outlook, and functioning are more able to work as volunteers. This answer choice addresses the flaw in the argument and provides an alternative explanation for the observed correlation.