LSAT 155 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q5

LR Question 5 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: An online auction site conducted a study of auction techniques…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: The second group of cars sold better than the first, even though the second group had defects listed and the first didn’t.

ANALYSIS: This is a classic type of paradox you see on the LSAT. “This bad thing did better than this good thing! Isn’t that weird?”

The correct answer will tell us why the bad thing is actually better than it seems or why the good thing is worse than it seems.

We’ll have to look for an answer that does that.

___________

1. Most people being generally skeptical doesn’t adequately explain why the second group sold more. If people are being equally skeptical toward both, the first is still more appealing.
2. If this were true, the first group would sell better. But it didn’t, and this doesn’t explain why.
3. If people are overlooking the defects, the second group would sell the same. But we want to know why it sold better.
4. CORRECT. The bad thing (listing defects) is not as bad as it seems, because it makes purchasers less worried about surprise problems.
5. People not reading descriptions doesn’t explain why the second group sold better. It would make the two groups the same at best.

Recap: The question begins with “An online auction site conducted a study of auction techniques”. It is a Paradox question. Learn how to master LSAT Paradox questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.