LSAT Explanation PT 45, S4, Q7: A typical gasoline-powered lawn mower emits

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is "Strengthen," which means we need to find the answer choice that provides the most support for the argument.

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The argument can be summarized as follows: Gasoline-powered lawn mowers emit a significant amount of air pollution, while electric mowers emit no air pollutants. Therefore, people can help reduce air pollution by choosing electric mowers over gasoline ones whenever feasible. The structure of the argument consists of two premises and a conclusion:

1. Premise: Gasoline-powered lawn mowers emit a significant amount of air pollution.

2. Premise: Electric mowers emit no air pollutants.

3. Conclusion: People can help reduce air pollution by choosing electric mowers over gasoline ones whenever feasible.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Does the production of electricity for electric mowers cause more air pollution than gasoline-powered mowers?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) Lawns help to clean the air, replacing pollutants with oxygen.

This answer choice is irrelevant to the argument, as it focuses on the benefits of lawns rather than the difference in pollution between gasoline and electric mowers. It doesn't provide any support for choosing electric mowers over gasoline ones.

b) Electric lawn mowers are more expensive to purchase and maintain than are gasoline mowers.

This answer choice doesn't strengthen the argument, as it focuses on the cost of the mowers rather than their impact on air pollution. The argument is about reducing air pollution, not the cost-effectiveness of the mowers.

c) Producing the power to run an electric mower for an hour causes less air pollution than does running an automobile for an hour.

This is the correct answer choice. It strengthens the argument by addressing the "Evaluate" question we posed earlier. By stating that producing power for an electric mower causes less pollution than running an automobile, it supports the idea that electric mowers are a better choice for reducing air pollution.

d) Most manufacturers of gasoline lawn mowers are trying to redesign their mowers to reduce the emission of air pollutants.

This answer choice doesn't strengthen the argument, as it suggests that gasoline mowers may become more environmentally friendly in the future. If anything, it weakens the argument by implying that the difference in pollution between electric and gasoline mowers might decrease.

e) Lawn mowers are used for fewer hours per year than are automobiles.

This answer choice is irrelevant to the argument, as it doesn't address the difference in pollution between gasoline and electric mowers. The argument is about the impact of choosing one type of mower over the other, not the overall pollution caused by lawn mowers compared to automobiles.