PT51, S1, Q1 - Almost every year the Smithfield

by **ManhattanPrepLSAT1** Mon May 03, 2010 2:19 am

This is a very common argument structure. It begins with "some people propose", continues with "they’re wrong", and finishes "here’s why!" The part that says "they’re wrong" is the conclusion of the argument and everything that follows is the evidence for why the conclusion is true. So the conclusion of the argument is that it is misguided to damn the river. Answer choice (D) says this best.

(A) is what some people propose, but not what the editorialist thinks.
(B) is an assumption of the editorialist’s argument but not the conclusion.
(C) misrepresents the editorialist’s argument because it’s not the construction costs that are the problem. It’s the loss of fish that would cost too much.
(D) perfectly restates the editorialist’s claim that "their position is misguided."
(E) is true. But not the conclusion.