LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of Justice Upton's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Main Conclusion question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's begin by analyzing the argument in the passage. Justice Upton argues that judges, due to their training and experience, should be well-equipped to determine whether a government minister's administrative decision is reasonable. He then adds that if this were not the case, there would be something badly wrong with the legal system, but there is little reason to believe that there is.

The argument can be structured as follows:

- Premise: If judges are not well-equipped to determine the reasonableness of an administrative decision, there is something badly wrong with the legal system.

- Premise: There is little reason to suppose there is something badly wrong with the legal system.

- Conclusion: Judges are well-equipped (and thus qualified) to determine the reasonableness of a government minister's administrative decision.

Now, let's discuss the question type and the answer choices. This is a Main Conclusion question, which asks us to identify the conclusion of Justice Upton's argument.

a) There is nothing much wrong with the legal system.

- This answer choice is not the main conclusion of the argument. It is a premise that leads to the conclusion, but it is not the central point of Justice Upton's argument.

b) Judges should be given a greater part in administrative decision making.

- This answer choice is out of scope, as Justice Upton does not discuss the role judges play in administrative decision making or suggest that they should have a greater part in it.

c) Judges are qualified to decide upon the reasonableness of a government minister's administrative decision.

- This is the correct answer. It accurately restates the conclusion of Justice Upton's argument, which is that judges, due to their training and experience, are well-equipped and qualified to determine the reasonableness of a government minister's administrative decision.

d) If something were badly wrong with the legal system, judges would be ill-equipped to determine whether a government minister's decisions are reasonable.

- This answer choice is a mistaken reversal of the argument. It incorrectly switches the sufficient and necessary conditions of the argument's premises.

e) If judges are well-equipped to determine whether an administrative decision is reasonable, there is not anything badly wrong with the legal system.

- This answer choice is also a mistaken reversal, as it switches the sufficient and necessary conditions of the argument. The conclusion is not a conditional statement.

In summary, the correct answer is C, as it accurately represents the conclusion of Justice Upton's argument. The other answer choices either misrepresent the argument or are out of scope.