LSAT Question Explanation
PT 108, Section 3, Question 12
StrengthenArgument structure
We shouldn't place a nuclear waste storage facility under this mountain until scientists investigate whether there are any geological faults.
A geological fault could cause nuclear waste to seep out or water to seep in within a few thousand years, which would be disastrous.
Explanation
This is actually a pretty logical argument for a strengthen question type. When I read this I don't see an obvious flaw or aspect of the argument that needs strengthening.
But that's ok! We just do process of elimination. Ask yourself "which answer choice strengthens that we shouldn't build the facility until scientists check for geological faults?"
Answer choices
This seems to slightly weaken the argument. If humans may not be around, there's less reason to care about seepage, and it's in turn less important that we check the mountain for faults.
This strengthens that we should wait for scientists to check for faults before building the waste storage facility because it shows that the scientists will be able to tell for sure if there's a geological fault. This eliminates the possibility that we would delay building the facility just for an inconclusive study.
This is irrelevant and doesn't tell us whether or not we should wait to build the facility until scientists have checked for faults. The stimulus indicates that geological faults would pose a threat to a nuclear waste storage facility under the mountain, it doesn't seem to matter what the original purpose of the facility was.
If anything this would weaken. If people are more concerned about costs than safety, then this indicates that we should not wait for the scientist's investigation. If people are more concerned about safety, then this shouldn't really matter.
This weakens the argument. If we can just move the waste later, then why not build the facility now and scientists can check for a fault concurrently or at a later date.