PrepTest 145, Section 2, Question 23
Most of the mines that Moradco operates in(30 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(7 more words not shown)
- AMoradco operates more(9 more words not shown)
- BThe total number(18 more words not shown)
- CMost of the(10 more words not shown)
- DMost of the(10 more words not shown)
- EMost of the(11 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
The mines that have never violated the rules cannot be Moradco's gold mines. Every one of its gold mines has violated the rules at some point, so the two descriptions cannot fit the same mine.
Now apply that to Velyena. More than half of Moradco's mines there have never violated environmental regulations. All of that majority must therefore be nongold mines. This doesn't tell us that every mine in Velyena is clean or that none is a gold mine. It tells us that nongold mines make up the majority of Moradco's operations there.
What we’re looking for
That's what I'd predict for the question asking what follows logically. Keep the location attached to the conclusion: we're counting Moradco's mines in Velyena.
Working the answers
- A
We have no information about other companies' mines. Moradco could be the largest operator in Velyena or a small operator alongside much larger ones. Its own mines' violation history doesn't establish a comparison with competitors.
- B
Moradco could have just one gold mine and 101 mines in Velyena. If that gold mine has violated the rules and the other 100 local mines have not, both statements are satisfied. The total number of gold mines needn't exceed the number of local mines.
- C
That same example can put the single gold mine in Velyena. Then every Moradco gold mine is located there, while 100 of its 101 local mines have never violated the rules. A majority of local mines being nongold doesn't tell us that a majority of gold mines are elsewhere.
- DCorrect
Most of Moradco's Velyena mines have never violated regulations. Every Moradco gold mine has violated regulations. Therefore that nonviolating majority in Velyena must consist entirely of nongold mines, establishing that most of its mines there are not gold mines.
- E
We can't extend the local majority to the whole world. Moradco might operate 100 nonviolating nongold mines in Velyena and thousands of gold mines elsewhere, all with violations in their histories. The Velyena statement would remain true while gold mines dominated its worldwide operations.
More Must Be True questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Must Be True questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.