LSAT 156 – Section 4 – Question 01

LSAT 156 - Section 4 - Question 01

July 2020

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT156 S4 Q01
+LR
Weaken +Weak
A
4%
144
B
0%
153
C
2%
144
D
88%
158
E
7%
150
120
131
143
 +Easiest 147.09 +SubsectionMedium

Montoya: Many industrial chemical processes that currently use organic solvents could use ionic liquids instead. Ionic liquids are less hazardous to workers and generate less air pollution. Moreover, some reactions occur at a faster rate or yield smaller quantities of unwanted by-products when ionic liquids are used. So chemical companies should begin using ionic liquids for many reactions that currently use organic solvents.

Peterson: Ionic liquids cost many times as much as organic solvents, so they are currently not practical for the chemical industry.

Summarize Argument
Montoya believes that chemical companies should switch from organic solvents to ionic liquids. Peterson disagrees, arguing that ionic liquids are not practical because they cost many times more than organic solvents.

Notable Assumptions
Peterson assumes that the cost of purchasing ionic liquids outweighs the money that the liquid’s benefits could save.

A
The cost of organic solvents is only one of many expenses involved in industrial production of chemicals.
This does not impact the reasoning at all. The fact that it is “one of many” does not cast doubt on how large the price is relative to other expenses.
B
New methods for removing by-products of chemical reactions have recently been developed.
If anything, this weakens Montoya’s argument because it provides less of an incentive to switch to ionic liquids
C
The chemical industry has historically been quick to adopt new techniques that increase the rate at which reactions occur.
This does not impact Peterson’s reasoning. Peterson is primarily focused on the costs outweighing the benefits.
D
Ionic liquids can be reused many times, whereas organic solvents can be used only once.
If ionic liquids can be reused many times, their higher initial cost might be made up, making them more cost-effective in the long run. This directly challenges Peterson’s main conclusion.
E
For the sake of public relations, companies will sometimes use a more environmentally friendly process even if it is slightly more expensive.
This does not impact the reasoning in the argument at all. Why a company chooses to switch to an environmentally sound process is completely unrelated.

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LSAT PrepTest 156 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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