Logical Reasoning

PT137 · S3 · Q15 Technologically, it is already possible

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

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Technologically, it is already possible to produce nonpolluting cars that burn hydrogen rather than gasoline.

Conclusion

This infrastructure is likely to appear and grow rapidly. (i.e. The national system of fuel stations for hydrogen fuel is likely to appear and grow rapidly)

Evidence

It's already possible to produce nonpolluting hydrogen cars. And, a century ago there was no fuel infrastructure for gas powered vehicles, but it quickly developed in response to consumer demand.

Evaluation

When we're doing Conclusion questions, we're primarily expecting the conclusion to be the very first claim, or to appear after some sort of But / Yet / However pivot.

Here we get the latter form. There is a pivot with "but" that introduces a fact: this system of stations does not yet exist. Then there is a pivot with "however" that introduces an opinion: this infrastructure is likely to appear soon.

The author then supports that opinion with the historical comparison premise in her last sentence.

Goal

Just look for an answer that says .

15.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the argument?

  1. It is already technologically possible

    Premise

    This is a fact, and it isn't supported by anything. A Conclusion is an opinion and at least one supporting idea is offered for it.

    4% picked this

  2. The fuel-distribution infrastructure for hydrogen-powered

    Counterpoint

    Yup, doesn't exist yet. This is a fact and it isn't supported. Our conclusion is the opinion that "the infrastructure will come soon" and it's supported by the fact that "when gas cars debuted, we built an infrastructure for them pretty quickly".

    2% picked this

  3. If a new kind of

    Too Broad

    This is fishing for people who like the sound of an underlying Principle or Necessary Assumption. We're just trying to find a match for the claim that "the hydrogen fuel infrastructure will be created soon".

    10% picked this

  4. Correct

    The fuel-distribution infrastructure for hydrogen-powered

    Why this is right

    This matches what we were looking for, an equivalent rephrasing of "However, this infrastructure is likely to appear and grow rapidly". If a conclusion has a pronoun in it (e.g. "this infrastructure" / "that claim" / "such things"), we should always prep our brains for how the answer is going to sound by replacing the pronoun with the specific thing it's referring to.

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

    81% picked this

  5. Hydrogen-powered vehicles will be similar

    Assumption

    This was never stated, so it can't be the author's stated conclusion. This is just something the author is assuming.

    2% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free