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- Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:32 am
#26188
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True—SN. The correct answer choice is (B)
This Must Be True question involves the use of conditional reasoning. Notice the final sentence of the stimulus: if these regulations had been followed, then the level of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere would have decreased. In other words:
The stimulus clearly states in the first sentence that the level of sulfur dioxide has not decreased, and in fact has increased in the last ten years. If that is true, then we know with certainty that the regulations have not been followed. This is a very strong prephrase with which to attack the five answer choices.
Answer Choice (A): The stimulus only tells us about the regulations passed ten years ago, and provides no information about whether or not those regulations are still current, or what the current regulations are. Therefore, we cannot say what will happen based on the current regulations.
Answer Choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. This matches the prephrase mentioned above. If the levels of sulfur dioxide have not decreased, then the regulations passed ten years ago must not have been followed, i.e. “there have been violations” of these regulations.
Answer Choice (C): This answer goes too far. Just because strict regulations did not work does not automatically mean that even stricter the regulations won’t work either. Since we cannot prove what will or will not happen in the future, this answer choice fails the Prove Test and is therefore incorrect.
Answer Choice (D): This answer is also incorrect. While it may be true that these emissions are one of the main sources of pollution, there is absolutely no way to prove that from the information in the stimulus. Answers such as Answer Choice (D) are common incorrect answers on Must Be True questions and can be very tempting. Remember that your goal on these questions is not to identify an answer choice that is true in the real world; rather, we are looking for an answer choice that can be proven by the information contained in the stimulus. The LSAT plays on students’ preoccupation with the distinction between true and false, when the real issue on Must Be True questions is between what is provable and what is not. Answer Choice (D), whether true in the real world or not, is not provable based on the stimulus.
Answer Choice (E): This answer choice contains an exaggeration (“never”). You have no idea what may happen with government regulations in the future.
Must Be True—SN. The correct answer choice is (B)
This Must Be True question involves the use of conditional reasoning. Notice the final sentence of the stimulus: if these regulations had been followed, then the level of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere would have decreased. In other words:
- Regulations Followed
Levels Decrease
The stimulus clearly states in the first sentence that the level of sulfur dioxide has not decreased, and in fact has increased in the last ten years. If that is true, then we know with certainty that the regulations have not been followed. This is a very strong prephrase with which to attack the five answer choices.
Answer Choice (A): The stimulus only tells us about the regulations passed ten years ago, and provides no information about whether or not those regulations are still current, or what the current regulations are. Therefore, we cannot say what will happen based on the current regulations.
Answer Choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. This matches the prephrase mentioned above. If the levels of sulfur dioxide have not decreased, then the regulations passed ten years ago must not have been followed, i.e. “there have been violations” of these regulations.
Answer Choice (C): This answer goes too far. Just because strict regulations did not work does not automatically mean that even stricter the regulations won’t work either. Since we cannot prove what will or will not happen in the future, this answer choice fails the Prove Test and is therefore incorrect.
Answer Choice (D): This answer is also incorrect. While it may be true that these emissions are one of the main sources of pollution, there is absolutely no way to prove that from the information in the stimulus. Answers such as Answer Choice (D) are common incorrect answers on Must Be True questions and can be very tempting. Remember that your goal on these questions is not to identify an answer choice that is true in the real world; rather, we are looking for an answer choice that can be proven by the information contained in the stimulus. The LSAT plays on students’ preoccupation with the distinction between true and false, when the real issue on Must Be True questions is between what is provable and what is not. Answer Choice (D), whether true in the real world or not, is not provable based on the stimulus.
Answer Choice (E): This answer choice contains an exaggeration (“never”). You have no idea what may happen with government regulations in the future.