LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's break down and analyze the argument in the passage. The passage is structured as follows:

Premise 1: The government-owned gas company has begun selling stoves and other gas appliances to create a larger market for its gas.

Premise 2: Merchants who sell such products complain that the competition will hurt their businesses.

Conclusion: The government-owned gas company is within its rights.

The author acknowledges that the merchants' complaints might be valid, but argues that the government-owned gas company is still within its rights to sell these appliances. The author supports this conclusion by stating that if a private gas company owner decided to sell such appliances, there would be nothing wrong with that.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question about the argument. A good question would be: "Is it valid to compare the rights of a government-owned company to those of a private company?"

The question type for this LSAT problem is a Principle question, which asks us to identify the principle that most helps to justify the reasoning in the argument.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) Government-owned companies have the right to do whatever private businesses have the right to do.

This answer choice directly addresses the comparison made in the argument between a government-owned company and a private company. It states that if private businesses have the right to do something, then government-owned companies also have that right. This principle supports the conclusion that the government-owned gas company is within its rights to sell appliances. This is the correct answer.

b) A government should always take seriously the complaints of merchants.

While this answer choice might seem relevant, it doesn't actually help justify the argument's reasoning. The passage acknowledges that merchants' complaints may be valid, but the conclusion is still that the government-owned gas company is within its rights. This principle doesn't help justify that conclusion.

c) Private businesses have no right to compete with government monopolies.

This answer choice is not helpful in justifying the argument's reasoning. The passage is about a government-owned gas company competing with private businesses, not the other way around. Additionally, this principle doesn't address the comparison between government-owned companies and private companies, which is central to the argument.

d) There is nothing wrong with a government-owned company selling products so long as owners of private companies do not complain.

This answer choice may seem tempting, but it doesn't help justify the argument's reasoning. The passage acknowledges that merchants are complaining, so according to this principle, there would be something wrong with the government-owned gas company selling appliances. However, the argument's conclusion is that the company is within its rights, so this principle doesn't support that conclusion.

e) There is nothing wrong with private companies competing against each other.

This answer choice is not relevant to the argument. The argument is about a government-owned company competing with private businesses, not private companies competing against each other. This principle doesn't help justify the argument's reasoning.

In conclusion, the correct answer is A, as it directly addresses the comparison made in the argument between a government-owned company and a private company, and supports the conclusion that the government-owned gas company is within its rights to sell appliances.