LSAT Question Stem

The columnist's argument does which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Method of Reasoning question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first break down the passage and understand the structure of the argument. The columnist presents the analysts' argument that as baby boomers reach the age of 50, they will start planning for retirement and shift from being consumers to savers. This, according to the analysts, will result in more money flowing into the stock market and continued gains in stock prices. The columnist accepts the premise that baby boomers will save more but disagrees with the analysts' conclusion. Instead, the columnist argues that decreased consumption will lead to lower corporate earnings, which will make high stock prices unjustified, and thus, baby boomers' money will more likely flow into other investments.

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Method of Reasoning (MOR) question, which asks us to identify how the columnist's argument is structured and how it interacts with the analysts' argument.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) The columnist does not question the truth of the analysts' premises. In fact, the columnist accepts the premise that baby boomers will save more. The disagreement lies in the conclusion drawn from those premises. So, this answer choice is incorrect.

b) While the columnist does mention that analysts would stand to gain if their conclusion were true, this is not the main focus of the argument. The columnist offers an alternative conclusion based on the same premises used by the analysts. Therefore, this answer choice is not correct.

c) This answer choice is correct. The columnist accepts the initial premises used by the analysts (baby boomers saving more) but offers an alternative conclusion (money flowing into other investments) based on considering other implications of those premises (decreased consumption leading to lower corporate earnings).

d) The columnist does not argue that the analysts' conclusion is basically right. Instead, the columnist disagrees with the analysts' conclusion and provides an alternative conclusion. Thus, this answer choice is not correct.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because the columnist does not argue in favor of the analysts' conclusion. Instead, the columnist offers a different conclusion based on the same premises used by the analysts. The argument is not based on a different body of evidence.

In summary, the correct answer choice is (c) because the columnist accepts the analysts' initial premises but offers an alternative conclusion based on considering other implications of those premises.