Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT15 S2 Q16 Explanation

In their native habitat, amaryllis

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

In their native habitat, amaryllis plants go dormant when the soil in which they are growing dries out during the dry season. Therefore, if amaryllis plants kept as houseplants are to thrive, water should be withheld year so that the plants go dormant.

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
16.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the

Answer choices

  1. Trap0% picked this

    Most kinds of plants go dormant at some time or other

  2. Trap0% picked this

    Amaryllis are more difficult to keep as houseplants than other kinds

  3. Trap19% picked this

    Water should be withheld from amaryllis plants kept as houseplants during the exact time of year that corresponds to the dry

  4. Trap9% picked this

    Any amaryllis plant that fails to thrive is likely to have been dormant for too

  5. Correct72% picked this

    Going dormant benefits amaryllis plants in their native habitat in some way other than simply preventing death

    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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