Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/html/web/app/themes/studypress-core-theme/template-parts/header/mobile-offcanvas.php on line 20

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? (A) Urban pollution has not doubled in the past decade. (B) Doctors and patients generally ignore the role of allergies in asthma. (C) Bronchial inhalers are unsafe, even when used according to the recommended instructions. (D) The use of bronchial inhalers aggravates other discases that frequently occur among asthma sufferers and that often lead to fatal outcomes even when the asthma itself does not. (E) Increased urban pollution, improved recording of asthma deaths, and the use of bronchial inhalers are the only possible explanations of the increased death rate due to asthma.

Short Answer

Expert verified
(E) Increased urban pollution, improved recording of asthma deaths, and the use of bronchial inhalers are the only possible explanations of the increased death rate due to asthma.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Question

The question asks us to identify an assumption on which the argument depends. An assumption is an unstated premise that must be true for the argument to hold. Close examination of all options will help identify this key assumption.
02

Analyze the Argument's Claims

Examine the core components of the argument, focusing especially on the factors claimed to contribute to the increased death rate from asthma: urban pollution, improved death recording, and bronchial inhalers.
03

Evaluate Each Option

Assess each option to see if it is necessary for the argument. Determine if the argument would fall apart without the truth of each option.
04

Analyze Option E

Option E states that increased urban pollution, improved death recording, and bronchial inhalers are the only explanations for the increased rate of asthma deaths. This option suggests no other reasons could contribute, making it a necessary assumption of the argument.
05

Validate the Assumption

To verify, ask if refuting Option E would invalidate the argument entirely. If the argument breaks down without this assumption, it confirms that Option E is a critical dependency.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Understanding Argument Analysis
Argument analysis is an essential skill, especially when tackling logical reasoning questions on the LSAT. In this type of exercise, students are tasked to dissect and interpret the main points of an argument. Here, the argument centers around the factors contributing to an increased asthma death rate. To effectively analyze the argument, it's crucial to identify its components: the premises and the conclusion.
  • Premises are the statements presented as facts, supporting the conclusion.
  • The conclusion is the statement or claim that the premises are meant to justify or prove.
When analyzing, question what is explicitly stated and what might be subtly implied. Understanding these elements is the first step in identifying any hidden assumptions that the argument might rely on.
The Subtle Art of Assumption Identification
Assumption identification is a critical part of argument analysis. An assumption acts as a bridge between the premises and the conclusion. It's an underlying statement that the argument takes for granted without explicitly stating it.
When identifying assumptions, ask yourself:
  • What must be true for the argument to make sense?
  • What is the argument relying on that isn't directly mentioned?
In the provided exercise, assumption identification required evaluating which factors were considered the only plausible contributors to the increased death rate. By identifying that alternatives were not presented, one can pinpoint Option E as a necessary assumption. The exercise demonstrates that without this assumption, the argument fails to account for other potential reasons, thus challenging its validity.
Harnessing Critical Reasoning Skills
Critical reasoning is about assessing the strength and validity of arguments. It's important for understanding how well an argument stands up to scrutiny. Strong critical reasoning skills allow you to inspect each part of an argument and understand its logical flow.
In this context, focus on evaluating the given claims and determining if they hold up under pressure. Ask yourself:
  • Are the premises logically leading to the conclusion?
  • Is there any information missing that, if introduced, would strengthen or weaken the conclusion?
By critically analyzing arguments, one can better identify weaknesses and potential assumptions. Practicing critical reasoning by evaluating real-life examples or exercises, like the asthma death rate scenario, can be a significant advantage in LSAT preparation.
Strategies for Effective Exam Preparation
Effective exam preparation for the LSAT logical reasoning section requires strategy and practice. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
  • Practice Regularly: Engage with a variety of logical reasoning exercises to build familiarity and confidence.
  • Understand the Test Format: Familiarity with question types makes it easier to identify what is being tested.
  • Review Mistakes: Learn from error analysis to prevent future mistakes.
  • Master Timing: Practice under timed conditions to improve speed without sacrificing accuracy.
Consistency and understanding are key. As you familiarize yourself with exercises like the one about assumptions and argument structure, you'll find yourself better equipped not only to tackle similar questions but also to apply these skills in real-world reasoning and decision-making tasks.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

How do the airlines expect to prevent commercial plane crashes? Studies have shown that pilot error contributes to two-thirds of all such crashes. To address this problem, the airlines have upgraded their training programs by increasing the hours of classroom instruction and emphasizing communication skills in the cockpit. But it is unrealistic to expect such measures to compensate for pilots lack of actual flying time. Therefore, the airlines should rethink their training approach to reducing commercial crashes. Which one of the following is an assumption upon which the argument depends? (A) Training programs can eliminate pilot errors. (B) Commercial pilots routinely undergo additional training throughout their careers. (C) The number of airline crashes will decrease if pilot training programs focus on increasing actual flying time. (D) Lack of actual flying time is an important contributor to pilot error in commercial plane crashes. (E) Communication skills are not important to pilot training programs.

Although this bottle is labeled "vinegar," no fizzing occurred when some of the liquid in it was added to powder from this box labeled "baking soda." But when an acidic liquid such as vinegar is added to baking soda the resulting mixture fizzes, so this bottle clearly has been mislabeled. A flaw in the reasoning in the argument above is that this argument (A) ignores the possibility that the bottle contained an acidic liquid other than vinegar (B) fails to exclude an altemative explanation for the observed effect (C) depends on the use of the imprecise term "fizz" (D) does not take into account the fact that scientific principles can be definitively tested only under controlled laboratory conditions (E) assumes that the fact of a labeling error is proof of an intention to deceive

The "suicide wave" that followed the United States stock market crash of October 1929 is more legend than fact. Careful examination of the monthly fugures on the causes of death in 1929 show that the number of suicides in October and in November was comparatively low. In only three other months were the monthly figures lower. During the summer months, when the stock market was flourishing, the number of suicides was substantially higher. Which one of the following, if true, would best challenge the conclusion of the passage? (A) The suicide rate is influenced by many psychological, interpersonal, and socictal factors during any given historical period. (B) October and November have almost always had relatively high suicide rates, even during the 1920 s and 1930 s. (C) The suicide rate in October and November of 1929 was considerably higher than the average for those months during several preceding and following years. (D) During the years surrounding the stock market crash, suicide rates were typically lower at the beginning of any calendar year than toward the end of that year. (E) Because of seasonal differences, the number of suicides in October and November of 1929 would not be expected to be the same as those for other months.

The mayor boasts that the average ambulance turnaround time, the time from summons to delivery of the patient, has been reduced this year for top- prionity emergencies. This a serious misrepresentation. This "reduction" was produced simply by redefining "top priority." Such emergencies used to include gunshot wounds and electrocutions, the most time-consuming cases. Now they are limited strictly to heart attacks and strokes. Which one of the following would strengthen the author's conclusion that it was the redefinition of "top priority" that produced the reduction in tumaround time? (A) The number of heart attacks and strokes declined this year. (B) The mayor redefined the city's financial priorities this year. (C) Experts disagree with the mayor's definition of "top-priority emergency." (D) Other cities include gunshot wound cases in their category of top-prionity emergencies. (E) One half of all of last year's top-priority emergencies were gunshot wounds and electrocution cases.

Ann: All the campers at Camp Winnehatchee go to Tri-Cities High School. Bill: That's not true. Some Tri-Cities students are campers at Camp Lakemont. Bill's answer can be best explained on the assumption that he has interpreted Ann's remark to mean that (A) most of the campers at Camp Lakemont come from high schools other than Tri-Cities (B) most Tri-Cities High School students are campers at Camp Winnehatchee (C) some Tri-Cities High School students have withdrawn from Camp Lakemont (D) all Tri-Cities High School students attend summer camp (E) only campers at Camp Winnehatchee are students at Tri-Cities High School

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on English Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free