Necessary AssumptionDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: People tell pollsters they hate trashy celebrity news, but the ratings show they are watching it more than ever, so they must be lying to look better.
Conclusion: People's poll responses often reflect their desired self-image rather than their actual behavior.
Reasoning: Despite claiming to be bored with celebrity-obsessed news, the public's viewing habits for those very shows increased significantly.
Analysis: The author assumes that the 'soaring ratings' are actually driven by the celebrity scandal coverage people claimed to dislike. If the ratings went up because of a major war or a different news event, then the poll respondents might be telling the truth about the scandals while still watching the news for other reasons. The argument needs to assume that the increase in viewership is actually linked to the content people claimed to be tired of. It's a classic case of human behavior where what we say to look sophisticated doesn't always match what we do when we're alone with the remote!
Conclusion: People's poll responses often reflect their desired self-image rather than their actual behavior.
Reasoning: Despite claiming to be bored with celebrity-obsessed news, the public's viewing habits for those very shows increased significantly.
Analysis: The author assumes that the 'soaring ratings' are actually driven by the celebrity scandal coverage people claimed to dislike. If the ratings went up because of a major war or a different news event, then the poll respondents might be telling the truth about the scandals while still watching the news for other reasons. The argument needs to assume that the increase in viewership is actually linked to the content people claimed to be tired of. It's a classic case of human behavior where what we say to look sophisticated doesn't always match what we do when we're alone with the remote!
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage24.Which one of the following is an assumption that the argument in the editorial requires?
Correct Answer
E
E is necessary. Negation test: if no poll respondents wished to be perceived as unwilling to watch, then the observed mismatch could not indicate that people portray themselves as they wish to be perceived; the editorial’s specific explanation wouldn’t be supported.
Upgrade Your Prep
Ready to go beyond free explanations?
LSAT Perfection is the #1 modern LSAT prep platform, trusted by thousands of students for comprehensive test strategies, advanced drilling, and full analytics on every PrepTest.
Detailed explanations for 59 PrepTests
Advanced drillset builder
Personalized analytics
Built-in Wrong Answer Journal