LSAT 143 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The number of automobile thefts has declined…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: Compared to five years ago, there are fewer automobile thefts and it’s more likely that someone who steals a car will be convicted.

ANALYSIS: Remember that you’re trying to explain two things:

1. Why there are fewer car thefts.
2. Why more car thieves get caught.

Most wrong answers either confuse the situation or don’t affect it.

Note that this isn’t really a paradox. But I put “most helps to explain” into the same type as “paradox” because most questions that say “most helps to explain” are paradoxes and the process is the same: we’re trying to explain the situation.

___________

1. CORRECT. This explains both facts. The first part is obvious: fewer thieves = fewer thefts.
    
   Now, for the second part: why do abandonment rates matter? Well, if thieves abandon cars before the theft is reported, then they won’t get caught. But this answer says that thieves are hanging on to cars longer, which explains why more car thieves get caught.
2. If people ignore car alarms, then car alarms can’t explain the decrease in car thefts.
3. This confuses the situation. If police can’t investigate car thefts, then why are more car thieves caught?
4. If the stolen car part market is more lucrative than before, then why is there less car theft? This confuses the situation.
5. The stimulus didn’t mention sentencing. This answer has no impact on the situation.