American attitudes tend to be rather insular, but there is much we can

This is an assumption finding question, so (C) could be the conclusion but not the assumption.

My reasoning for the same is,
A. Even if exercise programs do not increase productivity, they will improve the American worker's health.
The concern is productivity , not health.
B. The productivity of all workers can be increased by exercise.
Correct.
C. Exercise is an essential factor in the Japanese worker's superior productivity.
though a tough contender as the answer,but what is assumed by stating "....until mandatory...." that American employees too can be more productive if they adopt exercising ,may be by law, if not willingly.So, we choose (B).
D. American workers can adapt to the longer Japanese work week.
Week, or month (time ) is not in the scope of the argument.
E. American corporations don't have the funds to build elaborate exercise facilities.[/quote]
American corps doesn't have such facilities doesn't mean that they lack fund.There may be other reasons as well.

I would vote for 'C'
There are basically two things being said -
1) exercise increases productivity.
2) japanese workers are more productive than americans
'C' connects these two in a specific kind of way.
'B' is a generic statement. It uses the words 'All' and 'Can' .
When we say 'All' it means we are increasing our scope to non American or non Japanese workers also.
'Can' is not correct as the paragraph basically says that exercise is the ONLY way to increase productivity.

IMO C,

American attitudes tend to be rather insular, but there is much we can learn from other countries. In Japan, for example, workers set aside some time each day to exercise, and many corporations provide elaborate exercise facilities for their employees. Few American corporations have such exercise programs. Studies have shown that the Japanese worker is more productive than the American worker. Thus it must be concluded that the productivity of American workers will lag behind their Japanese counterparts, until mandatory exercise programs are introduced."

The conclusion of the argument is valid if which one of the following is assumed?


B. The productivity of all workers can be increased by exercise.
C. Exercise is an essential factor in the Japanese worker's superior productivity.

Till now from the discussion above we are certain that we are arguing between B and C so i am excluding rest of the option.

B. the productivity of all the workers can be improved ? but does this mean every one in the millions of workers in the current workforce.
Does it matter? Actually no because assume there is 1000 workers and 1 worker is not showing increased productivity. even then the overall productivity will not be significantly reduced.
So B is little too strong and little away from the main theme.

C.Is exercise the main reason for the higher productivity of Japanese...? as per the argument yes. so this is the correct choice and if the plan is to work then the productivity can be improved by better exercise programs.

Official Explanation

The unstated essence of the argument is that exercise is an integral part of productivity and that Japanese workers are more productive than American workers because they exercise more. The answer is (C).
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LSAT Critical Reasoning – Assumption
February 22, 2020

American attitudes tend to be rather insular, but there is much we can learn from other countries. In Japan, for example, workers set aside some time each day to exercise, and many corporations provide elaborate exercise facilities for their employees. Few American corporations have such exercise programs. Studies have shown that the Japanese worker is more productive than the American worker. Thus it must be concluded that the productivity of American workers will lag behind their Japanese counterparts, until mandatory exercise programs are introduced.

The conclusion of the argument is valid if which one of the following is assumed?


(A) Even if exercise programs do not increase productivity, they will improve the American worker’s health. X

(B) The productivity of all workers can be increased by exercise. X

(C) Exercise is an essential factor in the Japanese worker’s superior productivity.
CORRECT
This ties everything together nicely. Exercise > productivity among Japanese workers > USA for the most part does not have nearly as many exercise programs > USA less productive > Therefore, until USA gets more of these programs, they will be less productive.

Suppose it was not the case that exercise is an essential factor, then the author would have less persuasive power in his argument that the USA WILL continue to fall behind on the basis of them having fewer exercise programs (because those programs are not essential).

(D) American workers can adapt to the longer Japanese work week. X

(E) American corporations don’t have the funds to build elaborate exercise facilities X
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Not B because B says all. It definitely doesn't need to apply for all to still be true
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Hi TusharViv

First and foremost rule of GMAT is think within the scope of argument.

You may agree that choice B is the extreme version with generalised statement. It may true in real world but not within the scope of this argument becuase argument says only about American workers and Japanese workers. Also argument doesn't ask how to increase the productivity but what is the assumption of higher productivity.
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