LSAT 112 – Section 1 – Question 08

LSAT 112 - Section 1 - Question 08

December 2001

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT112 S1 Q08
+LR
Weaken +Weak
Link Assumption +LinkA
Analogy +An
A
4%
151
B
3%
148
C
7%
152
D
83%
161
E
2%
147
136
144
152
 +Medium 147.196 +SubsectionMedium

It has been claimed that television networks should provide equal time for the presentation of opposing views whenever a television program concerns scientific issues—such as those raised by the claims of environmentalists—about which people disagree. However, although an obligation to provide equal time does arise in the case of any program concerning social issues, it does so because social issues almost always have important political implications and seldom can definitely be settled on the basis of available evidence. If a program concerns scientific issues, that program gives rise to no such equal time obligation.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that television shows covering scientific issues need not give equal time to opposing views. Why? Because scientific issues are not like social issues, which are politically important and can rarely be settled definitively.

Notable Assumptions
The author assumes there’s no other reason a program would be obligated to provide equal airtime to opposing sides of an issue. She also assumes scientific issues can more often be settled than social issues and are less likely to have important political consequences.

A
No scientific issues raised by the claims of environmentalists have important political implications.
This strengthens the argument. It rules out the possibility that environmentalists on television raise scientific issues that, like social issues, have important political consequences.
B
There are often more than two opposing views on an issue that cannot be definitely settled on the basis of available evidence.
The number of opposing views is not relevant to the argument. Advocates of multiple positions can be given equal time even if there are three or more positions.
C
Some social issues could be definitely settled on the basis of evidence if the opposing sides would give all the available evidence a fair hearing.
This could refer to only a small number of social issues, so it doesn’t refute the author’s general assertion about them: they can “seldom” be settled definitively.
D
Many scientific issues have important political implications and cannot be definitely settled on the basis of the available evidence.
This ruins the author’s basis for contrasting social and scientific issues. If scientific issues are like social issues in this way, then by the author’s argument programs should offer equal time to opposing views on scientific issues as well.
E
Some television networks refuse to broadcast programs on issues that have important political implications and that cannot be definitely settled by the available evidence.
This implies some networks may be reluctant to discuss social issues, not that those networks would give equal time to opposing views on scientific issues. It’s possible the same networks would refuse to broadcast programs discussing scientific issues.

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LSAT PrepTest 112 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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