Sufficient Assumption
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LSAT Logical Reasoning › Sufficient Assumption
Live theater has been in competition with more modern media options for years. Today, there are a vast number of entertainment options and there is easy access to high quality entertainment technology, such as sophisticated home theater systems. Fewer people watch live theater than in the past. As a result, live theater has lost the competition with modern media.
Which of the following, if true, would allow the conclusion to be logically drawn?
Live theater has lost the competition with modern media only if it has fewer viewers than in the past
In the past, there were very few entertainment options other than live theater
Live theater performances are not performed as often as they once were
Home theater systems provide the same entertainment quality as live theater
Some people who once attended live theater now use sophisticated home theater systems
Explanation
The argument concludes that live theater has lost a competition with modern media. The conclusion does not logically follow from the assertions in the argument as they are presented. It is not clear how the competition would be lost. The additional premise allows the conclusion to be drawn.
Live theater has been in competition with more modern media options for years. Today, there are a vast number of entertainment options and there is easy access to high quality entertainment technology, such as sophisticated home theater systems. Fewer people watch live theater than in the past. As a result, live theater has lost the competition with modern media.
Which of the following, if true, would allow the conclusion to be logically drawn?
Live theater has lost the competition with modern media only if it has fewer viewers than in the past
In the past, there were very few entertainment options other than live theater
Live theater performances are not performed as often as they once were
Home theater systems provide the same entertainment quality as live theater
Some people who once attended live theater now use sophisticated home theater systems
Explanation
The argument concludes that live theater has lost a competition with modern media. The conclusion does not logically follow from the assertions in the argument as they are presented. It is not clear how the competition would be lost. The additional premise allows the conclusion to be drawn.
Scientists are now reporting that recent studies show the drug has been extremely effective in masking the harmful side effects of the disease. This breakthrough gives hope to many patients that scientists are very close to finding an appropriate medicine to fully cure the disease.
Which of the following statements is a sufficient assumption for the argument in the above passage?
The cure for the disease is related to the treatment of the side effects of the disease.
Scientists will be able to find the cure for the disease with the research they have already done.
The sufferers of the disease were most concerned about the side effects, rather than curing the disease itself.
Curing the disease itself is much more important than treating the side effects
Very few scientists would have been able to find a treatment for the side effects of the disease.
Explanation
The passage states that the cure for the disease should come to pass soon, and that it will happen because there have now been breakthroughs in treating the disease's side effects. This indicates that it assumed that the two events are highly related, which is the sufficient assumption for the conclusion in the passage.
Scientists are now reporting that recent studies show the drug has been extremely effective in masking the harmful side effects of the disease. This breakthrough gives hope to many patients that scientists are very close to finding an appropriate medicine to fully cure the disease.
Which of the following statements is a sufficient assumption for the argument in the above passage?
The cure for the disease is related to the treatment of the side effects of the disease.
Scientists will be able to find the cure for the disease with the research they have already done.
The sufferers of the disease were most concerned about the side effects, rather than curing the disease itself.
Curing the disease itself is much more important than treating the side effects
Very few scientists would have been able to find a treatment for the side effects of the disease.
Explanation
The passage states that the cure for the disease should come to pass soon, and that it will happen because there have now been breakthroughs in treating the disease's side effects. This indicates that it assumed that the two events are highly related, which is the sufficient assumption for the conclusion in the passage.
Large numbers of people fall ill every year from illnesses that could have been avoided by proper vaccination. Therefore, the government should spend money to educate people about the importance of getting vaccinated.
Which of the following assumptions would NOT support the argument?
Many vaccinations are not affordable for the average citizen.
The government has a duty to keep its citizens from becoming ill.
The cost of an education campaign is less than the cost of treating the illness.
People trust the government when it comes to decisions about their health.
Many people are unaware of the availability and purpose of vaccinations.
Explanation
If the average citizen simply cannot afford vaccinations, then the government's expenditure of money on educating citizens may not be the wisest use of funds. The rest of the answer choices support the argument that the government should invest in an education campaign about vaccination.
Large numbers of people fall ill every year from illnesses that could have been avoided by proper vaccination. Therefore, the government should spend money to educate people about the importance of getting vaccinated.
Which of the following assumptions would NOT support the argument?
Many vaccinations are not affordable for the average citizen.
The government has a duty to keep its citizens from becoming ill.
The cost of an education campaign is less than the cost of treating the illness.
People trust the government when it comes to decisions about their health.
Many people are unaware of the availability and purpose of vaccinations.
Explanation
If the average citizen simply cannot afford vaccinations, then the government's expenditure of money on educating citizens may not be the wisest use of funds. The rest of the answer choices support the argument that the government should invest in an education campaign about vaccination.
A paleontologist found a dinosaur tibia and fibula bone group that was too large to be placed into a stabilized storage chest. Luckily, an assistant discovered a way to safely separate the tibia and fibula bones. These bones could be reassembled later without a noticeable change in either bone. Now the bones can be placed in two stabilized storage chests.
The argument above depends on which of the following assumptions?
Neither the tibia or fibula bone is too large to fit into the chest.
The optimal conditions for preservation of the bones are found in the stabilized storage chest.
Placing the bones into the chest does not alter the accuracy of a later carbon-14 dating.
The tibula and fibula bone group can be separated into two equal sized parts.
The procedure for using two chests does not cost more money than using just one vault.
Explanation
Here, size offered the only barrier to putting the tibia and fibula bone group into the chest. Since the separated bones can now fit into their own separate chests, the author assumes that each bone can fit into a chest. Thus, the correct choice is: “Neither the tibia or fibula bone is too large to fit into the chest.”
A paleontologist found a dinosaur tibia and fibula bone group that was too large to be placed into a stabilized storage chest. Luckily, an assistant discovered a way to safely separate the tibia and fibula bones. These bones could be reassembled later without a noticeable change in either bone. Now the bones can be placed in two stabilized storage chests.
The argument above depends on which of the following assumptions?
Neither the tibia or fibula bone is too large to fit into the chest.
The optimal conditions for preservation of the bones are found in the stabilized storage chest.
Placing the bones into the chest does not alter the accuracy of a later carbon-14 dating.
The tibula and fibula bone group can be separated into two equal sized parts.
The procedure for using two chests does not cost more money than using just one vault.
Explanation
Here, size offered the only barrier to putting the tibia and fibula bone group into the chest. Since the separated bones can now fit into their own separate chests, the author assumes that each bone can fit into a chest. Thus, the correct choice is: “Neither the tibia or fibula bone is too large to fit into the chest.”
The general contractor working on the new bridge should use caution before hiring subcontractors because many subcontractors defraud general contractors who do not take appropriate caution. When general contractors take appropriate caution, however, they always avoid being defrauded. The general contractor working on the new bridge will not be defrauded because he has formal contracts with his subcontractors.
Which of the following assumptions, if true, allows the conclusion to be properly drawn?
Obtaining a formal contract is appropriate caution
General contractors are only sometimes defrauded
Some general contractors who obtain formal contracts are defrauded
Some contractors who take appropriate caution also obtain formal contracts
Some general contractors take appropriate caution without obtaining formal contracts
Explanation
We know that if there is appropriate caution, general contractors are not defrauded. We also know that the general contractor in this case obtained formal contracts. If obtaining formal contracts is appropriate caution, then the contractor here has taken appropriate caution and will not be defrauded.
The general contractor working on the new bridge should use caution before hiring subcontractors because many subcontractors defraud general contractors who do not take appropriate caution. When general contractors take appropriate caution, however, they always avoid being defrauded. The general contractor working on the new bridge will not be defrauded because he has formal contracts with his subcontractors.
Which of the following assumptions, if true, allows the conclusion to be properly drawn?
Obtaining a formal contract is appropriate caution
General contractors are only sometimes defrauded
Some general contractors who obtain formal contracts are defrauded
Some contractors who take appropriate caution also obtain formal contracts
Some general contractors take appropriate caution without obtaining formal contracts
Explanation
We know that if there is appropriate caution, general contractors are not defrauded. We also know that the general contractor in this case obtained formal contracts. If obtaining formal contracts is appropriate caution, then the contractor here has taken appropriate caution and will not be defrauded.