Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT112 S1 Q20 Explanation

Editorialist: To ensure justice in

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

Editorialist: To ensure justice in the legal system, citizens must be capable of criticizing anyone involved in determining the punishment of criminals. But when the legal system’s purpose is seen as deterrence, the system falls into the hands of experts whose specialty is to assess how potential lawbreakers are affected by the matters, justice is not then ensured in the legal system.

What this question is testing

Necessary Assumption

Your task

Find the assumption the argument requires in order for its conclusion to hold.

Common trap

Answers that would help the argument but aren't strictly required (sufficient, not necessary).

Winning move

Negate each choice — the right one breaks the argument when negated.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
20.

The editorialist’s argument requires assuming which one of

Answer choices

  1. Trap2% picked this

    Most citizens view justice as primarily concerned with the assignment of punishment to those

  2. Trap4% picked this

    In order to be just, a legal system must consider the effect that punishment will

  3. Trap3% picked this

    The primary concern in a legal system is to administer punishments

  4. Trap6% picked this

    In a legal system, a concern for punishment is incompatible with an

  5. Correct86% picked this

    Citizens without knowledge about how the legal system’s punishments affect potential lawbreakers are incapable of criticizing

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

    Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

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