Q3 - Organization president: The stationery

[giladedelman]

Here's the original question:

Can anyone please elaborate on this question...

Since "C" is the correct answer, I'm assuming that it's assumed that the paper used in the mailings as well as the paper of the envelopes are recyclable. So is answer choice C a necessary assumption (plastic part of envelopes being recyclable) since plastic (though it is made of recycled material) isn't necessarily recyclable?

I feel like "E" is also a required assumption, but then again, not necessarily since the argumetn doesn't says "these mailings" when it's discussing mailings from its headquarter and not all mailings of the entire company.

I just feel like it's a trick question because paper is not necessarily recyclable and the correct answer choice does not address that assumption.

Please let me know if you need more information about the question stem itself.

And here's the response:

Here are my thoughts on this question:

The question stem asks for a necessary assumption rather than a sufficient one through the use of the word "depends." A necessary assumption fills a gap; a sufficient assumption allows the argument to be conclusively drawn with no gaps. An argument can have many necessary assumptions. I think that is one reason for your confusion. Yes, there are also more necessary assumptions that can be indicated regarding the envelopes themselves being recyclable, but these aren't one of the choices, nor is it required by the question.

When you mentioned that you felt it was a trick question, you said it was because choice C didn't mention envelopes. But that's okay, since we're looking only for a (singular) necessary assumption, not a sufficient assumption (which would indeed allow the conclusion to be properly drawn..and hence you would be correct).

C points out one significant gap in the argument but certainly does not point out ALL the gaps, as you have indicated. However, if the assumption is not true, the conclusion would indeed fall apart, since the conclusion says "completely recyclable." Also, if you were to negate this--"The envelope windows made from recycled material are not recylable."--this would weaken the conclusion.

E is irrelevant because the premises limit the discussion to the mailings that are used from "our national headquarters." This is the topic of discussion. So whether the company sends other mailings out that are not from the national headquarters is out of scope. Afterall, the conclusion doesn't state that ALL of organizations mailings are recyclable.

Please let me know if this helps, if you see any improvement in my explanation, etc.

[giladedelman]

Wonderful explanation! Cyrus, I think there might be an LSAT-instructor job in your future!!!

[WaltGrace1983]

To play a bit of devil's advocate here, how would the letters themselves fit into this argument? The argument says that "and we never put anything but letters in the envelopes..." Would this not mean that the argument is also assuming that the letters are recyclable? The only thing that makes me doubt this is that the conclusion refers to "these mailings" and we don't know anything about "these mailings," other than the mailings consist of the envelopes.

In addition to this, the argument is talking about "when the envelopes have windows..." Who's to say that the envelopes in "these mailings" have windows anyway?

[ohthatpatrick]

You are correct that the argument ALSO assumes that the letters inside the envelopes are recyclable.

You said we don't know anything about "these mailings" other than that the mailings consists of the envelopes. That's not true. We also know that "nothing but letters are ever put into the envelopes".

Did you read the original post and response? That poster asked the same question. See if the response makes sense to you (essentially, arguments can have MANY Necessary Assumptions, so you pointing out something ELSE the argument assumes isn't any reason not to pick C).

In regards to your second question, I think you're getting a little too technical/paranoid for your own good.

You're probably thinking (or have heard us say) that "when" acts like "if" ... they're both sufficient triggers.

I think there's a subtle difference in meaning, though, as to how they're used.

"If" can be a true hypothetical ... meaning there's no guarantee that the left side idea ever happens.

If California gets destroyed by a volcano, I will be sad.

Doesn't it feel a little different to read:

When California gets destroyed by a volcano, I will be sad.

Using 'when' seems to convey a sense of certainty that something has or will happen.

So reading "when the envelopes have windows" gives you confidence that at some point the envelopes HAVE had windows. Thus, we do need to be concerned about (C).

Hope this helps.

[lolitatrekkie]

As I am reading through the explanation about C being the correct answer I'm still confused why C is the correct answer instead of D?

Is D wrong because the stimulus isn't talking about whether they recycle their envelopes and stationery but rather the material the envelopes are made from is recycled paper?

Thanks!

[WendyQ765]

The following are my opinions.
In Necessary Assumption question, there may be many necessary assumptions. So it seems like answer choices C,D,E all could be a necessary assumption.
But D is wrong because we are talking about national headquarters not all organization.
And E is wrong because it’s out scope and irrelevant. For example even though a mailing is sent from national headquarters, the stationery and envelopes may be from somewhere else and may be not recyclable. And even though a mailing isn’t sent from national headquarters may be recyclable. So it’s irrelevant. The different is from “sand” and “use”.