Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT133 S2 Q15 Explanation

Sociologist: A contention of many

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

Sociologist: A contention of many of my colleagues—that the large difference between the wages of the highest-and lowest-paid workers will inevitably become a source of social friction—is unfounded. Indeed, the high differential should have an opposite effect, for it means that companies will be able to hire freely in response to changing but from wage levels that are static or slow changing.

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
15.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the

Answer choices

  1. Correct86% picked this

    When companies can hire freely in response to changing conditions, wage levels do not tend to be

    Why this is right

    This answer bridges the gap between hiring freely in response to changing conditions and wage levels not being static or slow changing.

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

  2. Premise Support3% picked this

    People who expect their wages to rise react differently than do others to obvious

    This supports the premise that social friction arises not from large wage differences, but from wage levels that are static or slow changing.

  3. Premise Support1% picked this

    A lack of financial caution causes companies to expand

    This supports the premise that companies will be able to hire freely in response to changing conditions.

  4. Trap2% picked this

    A company's ability to respond swiftly to changing conditions always benefits

    Out of Scope - Term Shift / Too Strong Hiring freely in response to changing market conditions is not the same as responding swiftly to changing conditions. Furthermore, such changes need not always benefit workers, but must benefit workers at least sometimes.

  5. Premise Support9% picked this

    Even relatively well-paid workers may become dissatisfied with their jobs if their

    This supports the premise that social friction arises not from large wage differences, but from wage levels that are static or slow changing.

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