Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT156 S4 Q11 ExplanationA law is futile unless most of the parties

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

Keep going in LSAT Lab

  • 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

Free to start

Full official LSAT questions are available through LawHub. This page provides LSAT Lab's explanation, strategy, and review tools without republishing the full official question.

Stimulus

A law is futile unless most of the parties subject to it abide by it willingly. Thus, there can be no comprehensive international solution to the problem of pollution, since few power over their own industries.

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
11.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by

Answer choices, explained

  1. Trap4% picked this

    A comprehensive solution to the problems of pollution would require major changes

  2. Correct75% picked this

    Some nations would be required to give up some of their power over their own industries as part of any comprehensive solution

    Why this is right

    Answer B is correct.

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

  3. Trap12% picked this

    If most nations were willing to abide by international law, then there could be a comprehensive solution to

  4. Trap2% picked this

    The problems created by pollution affect most of the world's nations, but the pollution itself is produced by the

  5. Trap7% picked this

    Most of the current international laws concerning pollution do not require nations to give up any of their

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