LSAT 104 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q9

LR Question 9 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Last year the total number of meals sold…

QUESTION TYPE: Must be True

FACTS:

1. The company sold more meals this year than last year, overall.
2. At each individual restaurants that was open this year and last year, fewer meals were sold.

ANALYSIS: If all restaurants that were open both years sold fewer meals, then the company must have opened new restaurants. That’s the only way the company could have sold more meals overall.

___________

1. CORRECT. The company as a whole couldn’t have sold more meals if every existing restaurant sold fewer meals – unless new restaurants opened.
2. I’m not even sure what a competitive meal is – it’s a vague term. But since overall sales went up, it’s not clear why we should think the company’s meals are less “competitive”.
3. “Not improved” could mean “stayed exactly the same”, so this doesn’t mean much. And food quality isn’t always linked to sales.
4. Sales can change even if prices don’t.
5. Who knows? We don’t know whether the overall restaurant market went up or down. Maybe other companies’ restaurant sales collapsed, and this company captured most of the market.

Recap: The question begins with “Last year the total number of meals sold”. It is a Must be True question. Learn how to master LSAT MBT questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.