LR Problem Set #1, Q: 97

[moshei24]

Can you explain the stimulus in this question? I don't remember seeing a stimulus anything like that one, and it would help to understand what it's asking.

Thanks!

[Adam Tyson]

Is it the stimulus that you are puzzled by, or the stem? When I look at the question, I think the stimulus, while a bit long, is fairly standard stuff, but the question stem is an unusual Principle question in that it asks for a principle that will prove one OR THE OTHER of two groups to be correct, and we don't know which one we will be trying to support. This is a little more complex than just finding a principle that proves that one group is correct, as a typical principle question might. We would usually expect to see something like "which of the following principles would establish that demolishing the houses was the right decision" or else "which of the following principles would establish that rehabilitating the houses would have been the correct decision."

Instead of that typical, easier stem, we now find ourselves looking for either of those answers. A principle that supports demolition over rehabilitation will do the job, but so will an answer that supports rehabilitation over demolition. Answer choice B supports the rehabilitation group, saying that their approach should have been tried first (because if it doesn't work you can always demolish later, but once you demolish it's too late to rehab).

Good question on a tough question stem! I wouldn't expect to see many like that, but if you see one again I hope this will give you a better idea of how to approach it.

Adam M. Tyson
PowerScore LSAT Instructor

[moshei24]

Oh, right - the stem, sorry.

And that makes sense. You just need to provide a principle that would support either opinion. Very interesting!

Thanks!