LSAT 2 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q13

LR Question 13 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: If retail stores experience a decrease in revenues…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be True

FACTS:

1. If retail stores experience a decrease in revenues, then either:
2. Attitudes towards extravagant gift giving have changed, or
3. Price have risen beyond a level people can afford.
4. If prices have risen beyond what people can afford, then salaries have not kept pace with prices.

ANALYSIS: On these questions, a diagram can be useful. It is very important to know precisely what is being said. The question has not told us whether retail stores have experienced a decline in revenue. It has only told us what happens if they do experience a decline.

Since salaries have kept pace with prices, it can’t be the case that prices have risen beyond what people can afford.

___________

1. This would only be true if retail stores experience a decrease in revenues during the holidays.
2. Retail stores still might experience a decline in sales if attitudes towards gift-giving shift.
3. CORRECT. We know this is true because salaries have kept pace with price increases.
4. We have nothing to indicate this is true. Attitudes might have shifted.
5. This would be true if revenues declined. We don’t know if they have.

Recap: The question begins with “If retail stores experience a decrease in revenues”. It is a Must be True question. Learn how to master LSAT MBT questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.