Q7 - It is widely believed that the most environmentally

[mshinners]

Question Type:
Determine the Function

Stimulus Breakdown:
Some people think you should buy local. But they're not looking at the whole picture, because etc…

Answer Anticipation:
Yes, that description is a bit dismissive. However, this argument is only asking for the function of the first statement. The author pivots away from it, so it must be the counterpoint. I wouldn't spend much time on the rest of the argument - just a quick skim to make sure nothing unexpected happens.

Correct answer:
(D)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) Wrong side of the argument. While I'd accept an answer talking about a principle, this answer says it's part of the author's argument; the pivot after the statement tells us it's part of the counterpoint.

(B) This answer would take a read or two. It says the statement in question is a general principle, and the argument eventually moves on to a specific example of it. The argument doesn't do that, however. This answer also doesn't reflect that the statement in question is part of the counterpoint - even if you didn't fully understand what this answer is saying, you could still rule it out because of that omission.

(C) Opposite, if anything. The argument rejects this principle, it doesn't use it to reject another action.

(D) Bingo. The pivot away from this statement shows it to be a counterpoint, which is reflected in this answer.

(E) Wrong side of the argument. This is the conclusion that is widely believed, not the one the author argues for.

Takeaway/Pattern:
If you have started to pick up on the patterns of argument structure on the LSAT, you can sometimes save time on Determine the Function questions by skimming once you think you've confirmed the function in question!

#officialexplanation

[mmcnary]

I had an issue with this question because it didn't seem to me that they were rejecting the principle as a whole but instead saying "sometimes... for certain foods" - I thought D was too strong to say that the view is rejected.

[PaulV758]

I had an issue with this question because it didn't seem to me that they were rejecting the principle as a whole but instead saying "sometimes... for certain foods" - I thought D was too strong to say that the view is rejected.

Initially, I had a similar thought. I think what increases my confidence in D is that fact the belief being responded to is so stark and sweeping. In a sense then, even one claim that identifies a weakness is tantamount to rejecting the claim. Had the claim been couched more tentatively, then I suspect that D would be a harder answer choice to sell. But, D does identify a way in which the principal does not hold. Thus, if D is true, we can reject the universal application of the principal.