Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT14 S4 Q19 Explanation

When permits for the discharge

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

When permits for the discharge of chemicals into a waterway are issued, they are issued in terms of the number of pounds of each chemical that can be discharged into the waterway per day. These figures, calculated separately for each chemical for which a permit is issued, are based on an estimate is therefore protected against being adversely affected by chemicals discharged under the permits.

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
19.

The argument depends on the assumption

Answer choices

  1. Correct74% picked this

    relatively harmless chemicals do not interact with each other in the water to

    Why this is right

    Answer A is correct.

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

  2. Trap15% picked this

    there is a swift flow of water in the waterway that ensures rapid dispersion

  3. Trap3% picked this

    there are no chemicals for which discharge into waterways is

  4. Trap7% picked this

    those who receive the permits do not always discharge the entire quantity of chemicals that

  5. Trap1% picked this

    the danger of chemical pollution of waterways is to be evaluated in terms of human health only and not in terms of the health

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