LSAT Explanation PT 29, S1, Q5: Barnes: The two newest employees at

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an assumption on which Barnes's argument depends? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Necessary Assumption, which means we need to identify an assumption that the argument depends on for it to be valid. Let's first break down the passage and analyze the argument.

Barnes presents the following argument:

Premise: The two newest employees have high salaries for the simple tasks assigned to them.

Premise: The two newest employees have duties that are too complex for inexperienced workers.

Conclusion: The salaries and the complexity of the duties of these two newest employees should be reduced.

To help understand this argument, let's use a simple example. Imagine a company hires two new employees, Alice and Bob, as office assistants. Typically, office assistants perform simple tasks like filing and answering phones. However, Alice and Bob are given more complex tasks, such as managing projects and negotiating contracts. Additionally, they are paid much more than what office assistants usually receive. Barnes argues that Alice and Bob's salaries and task complexity should be reduced to match their experience level.

The "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Are the two newest employees inexperienced in their occupations?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice.

a) The duties of the two newest employees are not less complex than any others in the company.

- This answer choice is not an assumption the argument depends on. Barnes's argument is focused on the complexity of the duties assigned to the two newest employees, not how their duties compare to others in the company.

b) It is because of the complex duties assigned that the two newest employees are being paid more than is usually paid to newly hired employees.

- This answer choice is not an assumption the argument depends on. Barnes's argument does not rely on the reason for the high salaries, only that they are high and should be reduced.

c) The two newest employees are not experienced at their occupations.

- This is the correct answer choice. Barnes's argument assumes that the two newest employees are inexperienced, which is why their duties are too complex for them and their salaries should be reduced.

d) Barnes was not hired at a higher-than-average starting salary.

- This answer choice is not an assumption the argument depends on. Barnes's salary is not relevant to the argument about the two newest employees.

e) The salaries of the two newest employees are no higher than the salaries that other companies pay for workers with a similar level of experience.

- This answer choice would actually undermine the argument, as it would suggest that the salaries are appropriate for their experience level. Therefore, it cannot be an assumption the argument depends on.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (c), which states that the two newest employees are not experienced at their occupations. This assumption is necessary for Barnes's argument to be valid.