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- Tue May 31, 2016 4:51 pm
#25821
Complete Question Explanation
Main Point—CE. The correct answer choice is (B)
Traditionally, the first ten questions in each Logical Reasoning section are considerably easier than the last ten questions. This Main Point question holds to that tradition, featuring causal reasoning and a very straightforward structure, that begins with the conclusion in the first sentence, followed by two premises. Even though this question does not task you with assessing the validity of the conclusion, it is interesting to note that, as with all causal conclusions on the LSAT, the conclusion to this argument is flawed.
The economist’s first premise is that as incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices, such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide. This premise establishes a correlation between prosperity (i.e., when incomes rise) and carbon dioxide: as prosperity increases, carbon dioxide increases.
Next, the economist provides another correlation between prosperity and carbon dioxide. In countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions. So, as prosperity decreases, carbon dioxide emissions decrease.
Based on these bookend correlations between prosperity and carbon dioxide, the economist reaches the causal conclusion that prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide. This conclusion is flawed, because the evidence of correlation does not by itself establish causation. However, the task in this Main Point question is merely to identify the conclusion, which is presented in the first sentence of the stimulus.
Answer choice (A): This choice is not a restatement of the conclusion, because it fails to mention prosperity and its relationship to increases in carbon dioxide. While it is true that the phrase “a main cause of global warming” followed the conclusion, it plays the role of an appositive, further explaining what carbon dioxide is.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. This choice restates the conclusion, essentially replacing the phrase “driving force” with “important cause.”
Answer choice (C): This choice restates a premise of the argument.
Answer choice (D): This choice also restates a premise of the argument.
Answer choice (E): As with choices (C) and (D), this choice restates a premise of the argument.
Main Point—CE. The correct answer choice is (B)
Traditionally, the first ten questions in each Logical Reasoning section are considerably easier than the last ten questions. This Main Point question holds to that tradition, featuring causal reasoning and a very straightforward structure, that begins with the conclusion in the first sentence, followed by two premises. Even though this question does not task you with assessing the validity of the conclusion, it is interesting to note that, as with all causal conclusions on the LSAT, the conclusion to this argument is flawed.
The economist’s first premise is that as incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices, such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide. This premise establishes a correlation between prosperity (i.e., when incomes rise) and carbon dioxide: as prosperity increases, carbon dioxide increases.
Next, the economist provides another correlation between prosperity and carbon dioxide. In countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions. So, as prosperity decreases, carbon dioxide emissions decrease.
Based on these bookend correlations between prosperity and carbon dioxide, the economist reaches the causal conclusion that prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide. This conclusion is flawed, because the evidence of correlation does not by itself establish causation. However, the task in this Main Point question is merely to identify the conclusion, which is presented in the first sentence of the stimulus.
Answer choice (A): This choice is not a restatement of the conclusion, because it fails to mention prosperity and its relationship to increases in carbon dioxide. While it is true that the phrase “a main cause of global warming” followed the conclusion, it plays the role of an appositive, further explaining what carbon dioxide is.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. This choice restates the conclusion, essentially replacing the phrase “driving force” with “important cause.”
Answer choice (C): This choice restates a premise of the argument.
Answer choice (D): This choice also restates a premise of the argument.
Answer choice (E): As with choices (C) and (D), this choice restates a premise of the argument.