LSAT 142 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Currently, no satellite orbiting Earth is at…

QUESTION TYPE: Role in Argument

CONCLUSION: There will be a much higher risk of satellite collisions in the future.

REASONING: Once one satellite collision occurs, the accident will create lots of debris that other satellites can crash into.

ANALYSIS: This is a serious concern in the satellite realm. As far as I’m aware, we have no good way of removing debris from the atmosphere. So once a collision occurs, the extra debris will stay in orbit indefinitely.

The question is asking about the role of the statement between “but” and “after all”. These words have the following structural meaning:

But: I disagree with what came before. What comes after “but” is my conclusion.

After all: The conclusion is what comes before “after all”. The sentence following “after all” is evidence for the conclusion.

So the statement in question is the conclusion.

___________

1. The statement in question is the conclusion. See the analysis above. It is supported, by the sentence that follows “after all”.
2. The statement in question is the conclusion. See the analysis above. It is supported, by the sentence that follows “after all”.
3. The statement in question is the conclusion. See the analysis above.
4. CORRECT. See the analysis above.
5. Nonsense. The statement in question is the conclusion. See the analysis above.