LSAT Question Stem

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

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The editorial presents the following argument:

Premise 1: The structure of the present school calendar was established to satisfy the requirements of early-twentieth-century agricultural life.

Premise 2: Agricultural life no longer occupies most of our citizens.

Conclusion: Long breaks should be removed from the school calendar.

The conclusion is based on the idea that since the original purpose of long breaks (agricultural life) is no longer relevant, we should remove them to better serve the interests of children.

To make this argument more relatable, let's use a simple example. Imagine a workplace that originally had an hour-long break in the middle of the day for employees to go home and tend to their gardens. If most employees no longer have gardens, it makes sense to reconsider whether this long break is still necessary or beneficial.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question about the argument: "Do long breaks in the school calendar actually harm or not serve the interests of children?"

The question type of this problem is Necessary Assumption, which means we need to identify an assumption on which the editorial's argument depends.

a) During long breaks, children have a tendency to forget what they have learned.

While this answer choice strengthens the argument, it is not necessary for the argument to be valid. The argument could still hold even if children don't forget what they've learned during long breaks.

b) Children of farmers need to continue observing a school calendar made up of periods of study interspersed with long breaks.

This answer choice argues for the opposite of what is argued in the passage, so it cannot be a necessary assumption for the editorial's argument.

c) Long breaks in the school calendar should be replaced with breaks that are no longer than workers' average vacations.

This answer choice is not relevant to the argument, which focuses on removing long breaks to serve the best interest of children. It doesn't address whether shorter breaks would actually serve children's interests.

d) A change in the present school calendar that shortened breaks would serve the interests of agricultural life.

This answer choice is not relevant to the argument, as it focuses on serving agricultural life rather than the interests of children. The argument is about removing long breaks to better serve children, not agricultural life.

e) A school calendar made up of periods of study without long breaks would serve the interests of children more than a school calendar with long breaks.

Correct. This is a necessary assumption for the editorial's argument. If this assumption is not true, then the argument falls apart because removing long breaks might not actually serve the interests of children.

In conclusion, the correct answer is E, as it is a necessary assumption for the argument that removing long breaks would better serve the interests of children.