Question

Advertisement: Clark brand-name parts are made for cars manufactured in this country. They satisfy all of our government automotive teststhe toughest such tests in the world. With foreign-made parts, you never know which might be reliable and which are cheap lookalikes that are poorly constructed and liable to cost you hundreds of dollars in repairs. Therefore, be smart and insist on brand-name parts by Clark for your car. The argument requires the assumption that (A) Clark parts are available only in this country (B) foreign-made parts are not suitable for cars manufactured in this country (C) no foreign-made parts satisfy our government standards (D) parts that satisfy our government standards are not as poorly constructed as cheap foreign-made parts (E) if parts are made for cars manufactured in our country, they are not poorly constructed

Short answer

Option (D) is needed for the argument.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the Argument

The argument states that Clark parts are made for domestic cars and satisfy the toughest government automotive tests. It contrasts this with foreign parts, which may be unreliable or poorly constructed, suggesting the reader should choose Clark parts for reliability.

Identify the Conclusion

The conclusion of the argument is that consumers should choose Clark brand-name parts for their cars because they are more reliable than foreign parts.

Determine Necessary Assumption

To support the conclusion, the argument assumes that there is a significant difference in the quality between parts that meet government standards and cheap foreign parts. Specifically, that passing government standards indicate better construction quality compared to the poorly constructed cheap parts.

Test Each Option

Evaluate each provided option to see if it logically fills the gap between the premise and the conclusion: - (A) is irrelevant as availability is not discussed. - (B) suggests unsuitability but does not address the main point of construction quality. - (C) weakens the argument by excluding all foreign parts outright and does not address construction details. - (D) directly states that parts meeting government standards are better constructed than cheap foreign counterparts, fitting the assumption needed. - (E) does not make a clear comparison between government standards and foreign parts.

Choose the Best Option

Option (D) is the best choice as it directly supports the argument's contrast between Clark parts and foreign parts by highlighting that parts meeting government standards are better constructed, addressing the assumption of reliability.

Key concepts

Argument Analysis

Understanding argument analysis is crucial in cracking logical reasoning questions on the LSAT. It involves breaking down a given statement into its core components. These components typically include:

• Premises: These are the foundational statements or facts presented to support a conclusion.
• Conclusion: Often derived from the premises, this is the main statement or action the argument suggests is true.
• Assumptions: Unstated elements that must hold true for the conclusion to be valid.

In the example exercise, the argument's premise is that Clark's car parts meet tough government tests, implying superiority over foreign parts. The conclusion is that consumers should insist on Clark parts for reliability.

Assumption Identification

In logical reasoning, the ability to identify assumptions is key to evaluating the strength of an argument. An assumption in this context can be considered a missing bridge between a premise and the conclusion. When identifying assumptions:

• Look for gaps between the premise and the conclusion that need to be filled for the argument to hold true.
• Consider what must be true for the conclusion to logically follow from the premise.

In our exercise, the argument assumes that passing government tests equates to better construction quality. This fills the gap between government standards and the claimed reliability of Clark parts.

Critical Reasoning

Critical reasoning involves evaluating arguments to determine their validity and soundness. It requires questioning the strength and relevance of the premises and whether the conclusion logically follows. To apply critical reasoning effectively, ask yourself:

• Does the conclusion logically follow from the premises?
• Are there any logical fallacies or irrelevant statements?

In the advertisement argument, critical reasoning reveals that the conclusion might oversimplify the issue by linking meeting government standards directly with quality, which raises questions about possible alternatives or exceptions.

Test Preparation

Preparing for the LSAT involves honing skills in argument analysis, assumption identification, and critical reasoning. Here are some tips to improve your performance:

• Practice Regularly: Frequent practice with varied logical reasoning questions helps build familiarity with common argument structures.
• Review Mistakes: Learn from incorrect responses by understanding why a particular answer wasn't ideal.
• Simulate Test Conditions: Practice under timed conditions to improve your speed and efficiency.
• Decipher Complex Language: Become adept at translating complex arguments into simpler terms for better understanding.

By integrating these habits, you'll bolster the critical skills needed for success in logical reasoning sections.