LSAT 17 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Between 1977 and 1987, the country of Ravonia lost…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

FACTS: Ravonia’s logging and wood processing industry lost jobs even though the total amount of timber cut increased.

ANALYSIS: Do lumberjacks cut wood with their bare hands? No, they use machines. Better machines can increase the amount of wood cut and reduce the number of lumberjacks needed.

That’s one possible explanation. The other explanation (and the right answer) is based on the fact that we’re talking about wood cutting and wood processing. It may be that only wood processing jobs were lost while wood cutting jobs increased.

Wood processing jobs could decrease because of technology. Or it could decrease because less wood is processed in Ravonia. We’re told that more timber is being cut but not how much wood is processed.

___________

1. This is just a fact about the timber industry’s size. It doesn’t offer any explanation.
2. This deepens the mystery. Ravonia produced more wood despite a drop in woodland. And they did it with less people. But how?
3. CORRECT. This explains it. Wood production increases and so do wood cutting jobs. But wood processing jobs fall since more wood processing is done outside Ravonia.
4. This doesn’t really affect anything. Once it comes time to sell wood products you’ve already cut and processed them. The work of the cutters and processors has already been done. This is different from answer choice C because here the wood processors may still have jobs domestically.
5. This shows that it isn’t just woodworkers who are having tough times but it doesn’t explain anything.

Recap: The question begins with “Between 1977 and 1987, the country of Ravonia lost”. It is a Paradox question. Learn more about LSAT Paradox questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.