LSAT 4 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q2

LR Question 2 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: If we are to expand the exploration of our solar system…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: Flight Times to Mars and Phobos are almost the same. Yet fuel requirements for the Phobos trip are less than half of those for the Mars trip.

ANALYSIS: You don’t need to know anything about Mars and Phobos to answer this question. It might help to remember that moons are generally smaller than their planets.

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1. This makes a trip to Phobos seems harder, not easier.
2. This would help if we knew that a trip to Phobos could use a smaller spaceship. We don’t know that.
3. That’s nice, but it doesn’t explain the difference in fuel requirements.
4. This doesn’t tell us much. That could mean that Phobos and Mars are each about as far, or that Mars is a bit further. In any case, Mars is not far enough away to require twice the amount of fuel.
5. CORRECT. This does it. Lift off is a big user of fuel. If the Phobos lift-off requires much less fuel then this helps explain why the Phobos trip only requires half as much fuel.

Recap: The question begins with “If we are to expand the exploration of our solar system”. It is a Paradox question. Learn more about LSAT Paradox questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.