Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT131 S1 Q1 Explanation

Editorial: Almost every year

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

TopicsMain Conclusion

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Stimulus

Editorial: Almost every year the Smithfield River floods the coastal fishing community of Redhook, which annually spends $3 million on the cleanup. Some residents have proposed damming the river, which would cost $5 million but would prevent the flooding. However, their position is misguided. A dam would prevent nutrients in the river elsewhere. The loss of these fish would cost Redhook $10 million annually.

What this question is testing

Main Conclusion

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

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

The question
1.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of

Answer choices

  1. Opposing Point1% picked this

    The Smithfield River should be dammed to

    This represents the point against which the editorialist argues.

  2. Premise4% picked this

    Nutrients from the Smithfield River are essential to the local

    This is support for the argument's main conclusion.

  3. Unsupported5% picked this

    Damming the Smithfield River is not worth the high construction costs for

    The editorialist does not argue that the construction cost is too much to justify damming the river, but rather the loss of fish would cost Redhook $10 million annually.

  4. Correct90% picked this

    For Redhook to build a dam on the Smithfield River would

    Why this is right

    This best paraphrases the argument's main conclusion.

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

  5. Opposing Support0% picked this

    The Smithfield River floods cost Redhook $3 million

    This supports the opposing point proposed by some residents to dam the river.

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