LSAT 109 – Section 4 – Question 15

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Type Tags Answer
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Curve Question
Difficulty
Psg/Game/S
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PT109 S4 Q15
+LR
+Exp
Except +Exc
Strengthen +Streng
Rule-Application +RuleApp
A
2%
156
B
6%
158
C
89%
167
D
1%
152
E
2%
161
140
148
155
+Medium 150.49 +SubsectionHarder

In 1992, there were over 250 rescues of mountain climbers, costing the government almost 3 million dollars. More than 25 people died in climbing mishaps that year. Many new climbers enter the sport each year. Members of a task force have proposed a bonding arrangement requiring all climbers to post a large sum of money to be forfeited to the government in case of calamity.

Summarize Argument
The task force recommends an arrangement where climbers forfeit money to the government if they need rescuing. Why? Because mountain climbing is dangerous, and rescuing mountain climbers cost the government almost 3 million dollars in one year.

Notable Assumptions
The task force assumes the proposed agreement will either create an incentive strong enough to reduce the number of mountain climbers, thus reducing the number who die or need rescuing, or raise enough money to pay for those rescues. They assume it should be the responsibility of a mountain climber to pay for their own rescue, rather than the government.

A
Taxpayers should not subsidize a freely chosen hobby and athletic endeavor of individuals.
This principle supports the proposal, which would shift the financial burden of mountain climbing rescues from taxpayers to the climbers.
B
The government is obliged to take measures to deter people from risking their lives.
This principle supports the proposal, which creates a strong financial incentive against dangerous climbing by making climbers pay for their own evacuations.
C
For physically risky sports the government should issue permits only to people who have had at least minimal training in the sport.
This principle doesn’t apply. There’s no indication the proposal in question is available only to those with some training in mountain climbing.
D
Citizens who use publicly subsidized rescue services should be required to pay more toward the cost of these services than citizens who do not.
This principle supports the proposal, which would make mountain climbers who use public rescue services pay more for those services than people who don’t.
E
People who engage in physically risky behavior that is not essential to anyone’s welfare should be held responsible for the cost of treating any resulting injuries.
This principle supports the proposal, which would make risk-taking mountain climbers who suffer “calamity” and need government help—such as rescuing and medical care—responsible for the cost of that help.

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