LSAT Explanation PT 23, S3, Q13: If the proposed tax reduction package

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the argument's conclusion to be properly drawn? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The argument has the following structure:

1. If the proposed tax reduction package is adopted this year (Premise 1), the library will be forced to discontinue its daily story hours for children (Premise 2).

2. If the daily story hours are discontinued, many parents will be greatly inconvenienced (Premise 3).

3. So the proposed tax reduction package will not be adopted this year (Conclusion).

We can represent this argument using conditional statements:

1. Tax Reduction Adopted -> Library Discontinues Story Hours

2. Library Discontinues Story Hours -> Parents Inconvenienced

By combining these conditionals, we get:

Tax Reduction Adopted -> Parents Inconvenienced

Now, we need to find an assumption that allows us to draw the conclusion that the tax reduction package will not be adopted this year. The question type is Sufficient Assumption, so we're looking for an answer choice that, if assumed, allows the argument's conclusion to be properly drawn.

Let's evaluate each answer choice:

a) Any tax reduction package that will not force the library to discontinue daily story hours will be adopted this year.

- This doesn't help us conclude that the proposed tax reduction package will not be adopted this year. It only tells us that packages that don't force the library to discontinue story hours will be adopted.

b) Every tax reduction package that would force the library to discontinue daily story hours would greatly inconvenience parents.

- This answer choice restates the information from the premises, but it doesn't provide a link between inconveniencing parents and not adopting the tax reduction package.

c) No tax reduction package that would greatly inconvenience parents would fail to force the library to discontinue daily story hours.

- This answer choice doesn't help us conclude that the tax reduction package will not be adopted. It only tells us that if a package inconveniences parents, it will also force the library to discontinue story hours.

d) No tax reduction package that would greatly inconvenience parents will be adopted this year.

- This answer choice directly links the inconvenience to parents to not adopting the tax reduction package. If we assume this statement to be true, we can conclude that the tax reduction package will not be adopted this year because it would greatly inconvenience parents. This is the correct answer.

e) Any tax reduction package that will not greatly inconvenience parents will be adopted this year.

- This answer choice tells us that packages that don't inconvenience parents will be adopted, but it doesn't help us conclude that the proposed tax reduction package will not be adopted this year.

In conclusion, the correct answer is D, as it provides the missing link between inconveniencing parents and not adopting the tax reduction package, allowing us to properly draw the argument's conclusion.