LSAT 130 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q17

LR Question 17 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: A survey taken ten years ago of the residents of area L

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: Two different surveys:

Ten years ago, living conditions in L were below average, but people were satisfied.

Now, conditions are at the average, but people are unhappy.

ANALYSIS: I can think of a few possible reasons:

Maybe national conditions have declined, and local conditions as well.

Maybe other countries got richer, while the country of area L didn’t. In which case people might be resentful even though compared to the national average they are fine.

___________

1. We’re not told how residents of adjacent areas feel, so this provides no information.

2. CORRECT. If this is true, then it’s possible area L is poorer. Here’s a numerical example. Such a decline would be painful: area L got almost 30% poorer!

   Ten years ago

   • Area L: 70
   • National: 100

   Now

   • Area L: 50
   • National: 50
3. This tells us how the survey was created, but it doesn’t explain why people in area L are less happy. There’s no indication the survey was changed for the new version.
4. This tells us when conditions improve, but it doesn’t tell us whether conditions in area L improved or not.
5. This sounds tempting, but this doesn’t tell us whether area L is aware of their relative condition now. Maybe nothing changed.