LSAT Question Stem

The argument in the editorial depends on assuming which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary 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 editorial claims that a political party has expressed that increasing spending on education is a worthy goal. However, the same party has also claimed that the government should not increase spending on education. The editorial concludes that this party's policy is clearly inconsistent.

Here, we have two premises:

1. The party believes increasing spending on education is a worthy goal.

2. The party also believes the government should not increase spending on education.

The conclusion is that the party's policy is inconsistent.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Is there a consistent policy that could hold that an action that comprises a worthy goal should not be performed?"

The question type for this LSAT problem is Necessary Assumption. We need to find the answer choice that the argument depends on assuming.

a) This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on a legislator's claim and vote, which is not mentioned in the stimulus. The argument is about the party's policy as a whole, not individual legislators.

b) This answer choice is out of scope, as it discusses reducing spending on education in the long run, which is not mentioned in the stimulus.

c) This answer choice is also out of scope, as it discusses whether or not one should try to achieve a morally good goal, which is not relevant to the argument.

d) This is the correct answer. The argument assumes that a consistent political policy does not hold that an action that comprises a worthy goal should not be performed. If this assumption were false, the conclusion that the party's policy is inconsistent would not hold.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the views of individual members of a political party, rather than the party's policy as a whole. The argument is about the party's policy, not the views of its members.

In conclusion, the correct answer is (D), as it is the necessary assumption that the argument depends on. The argument assumes that a consistent political policy does not hold that an action that comprises a worthy goal should not be performed, which supports the conclusion that the party's policy is inconsistent.