Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT4 S1 Q12 Explanation

Leachate is a solution, frequently

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

TopicsMust be True

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Stimulus

Leachate is a solution, frequently highly contaminated, that develops when water permeates a landfill site. If and only if the landfill’s capacity to hold liquids is exceeded does the leachate escape into the environment, generally in unpredictable quantities. A method must be found for disposing of leachate. Most landfill leachate is sewage plants are capable of handling the highly contaminated water.

What this question is testing

Must be True

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
12.

Which one of the following can be inferred from

Answer choices

  1. Trap4% picked this

    The ability to predict the volume of escaping landfill leachate would help solve

  2. Trap0% picked this

    If any water permeates a landfill, leachate will escape into

  3. Trap0% picked this

    No sewage treatment plants are capable of

  4. Trap29% picked this

    Some landfill leachate is sent to sewage treatment plants that are incapable

  5. Correct67% picked this

    If leachate does not escape from a landfill into the environment, then the landfill’s capacity to hold liquids

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

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

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