LSAT 101 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q24

RC Question 24 Explanation

DISCUSSION: This is from lines 32-35. To answer this question, just finish reading the sentence:

“…ensure the industriousness of British workers.”

The correct answer says “cheap and productive”. The “cheap” part comes from the low wages themselves.

___________

1. How do low wages protect laborers? You don’t have to know that “Draconian” means “harsh or horrible” to eliminate this answer.
2. Line 35 says “Indeed, certain notables…”. This implies that low wages and the desire to enslave the unemployed went hand in hand.
3. CORRECT. “Industriousness” means productive. “Cheap” comes from the low wages themselves. Draconian laws made the labor force productive, and low wages kept them cheap.
4. If you just read the sentence on lines 32-35, you’ll see this wasn’t the goal. Besides, this goal is insane: no economy has ever experienced zero unemployment.
5. Actually, cheap and productive labor in Britain would have made it harder to sell enforced labor products from the colonies.