Because a large disparity in pay

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

TopicsNecessary Assumption

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Stimulus

Because a large disparity in pay between the public and private sectors has developed in recent years, many experienced and extremely capable government administrators have quit their posts and taken positions in private-sector management. Government will be able to recapture these capable administrators by raising salaries to a level way, the functioning of public agencies will be improved.

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 position taken above presupposes which one of

Answer choices

Trap6% picked this
Experience gained from private-sector management will be very valuable in
6%
Trap5% picked this
The most important factor determining how well government agencies function is the amount of experience
5%
Trap5% picked this
Unless government action is taken, the disparity in pay between government administration and private-sector management
5%
Correct80% picked this
People who moved from jobs in government administration to private-sector management would choose to
Why this is right
Answer D is correct.
Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
80%
Trap5% picked this
If the disparity in pay between government administration and private-sector management increases, administrators will move to the public
5%

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