PT38.S4.Q14-- Help -- flaw in the argument question

Darklord

Hi,

The answer here was D. However, I thought D here was wrong because the stimulus never explicitly mentioned anything about "total" emissions-- it just said that the cars spend more time spewing emissions. Can anyone explain to me why D is right?

Any #help would be appreciated!

Admin Note: https://7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-38-section-4-question-14/

dazedandconfused-1

D is correct because the premise which supports the conclusion is that:
(Only showing one side of the premise and the conclusion, excluding the saving lives part)
P: slower car --> more time on the road --> more exhaust spewed
C: Reducing speed limit does not protect environment.

total emission can be understood as the collective addition of all the exhaust spewed into the air. Premise is arguing that more time on the road adds to the total emission because there will be more exhaust spewed into air. This is the flaw of the stimulus. What if reducing speed limit has other ways of protecting the environment that doesn't depend on the amount of time?

Darklord

Jeez I think this still confuses me... a car spending more time on road = more pollution OR the same amount of pollution as driving fast; so how is this the same thing as total emission determined primarily by time? Seems sort of like a logical leap