LSAT 143 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q18

LR Question 18 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Wong: Although all countries are better off as…

QUESTION TYPE: Point at Issue

ARGUMENTS: Wong says sometimes autocracy is required to transition to democracy – even though democracy is ultimately better.

Tate believes some countries are better as autocracies than as democracies.

ANALYSIS: On point at issues questions, you must find something that:

1. Both people say, and
2. They disagree about

Wong says democracy is always better. Tate says autocracy is sometimes better.

Why does Wong mention autocracy? Because they say it’s sometimes required to get to democracy. Democracy would be better, but the country has to get through the autocratic transition first.

___________

1. CORRECT. Tate agrees with this. Wong doesn’t – even countries in an autocratic transition will be better off once they become democracies.
2. Wong didn’t say if democracy is the most important need of a country. And Wong didn’t even mention freedom and autonomy. This can’t be the answer if Wong didn’t mention it.
3. Neither person addressed this. Tate says some countries would be better off as autocracies, but Tate didn’t say it’s impossible for those countries to become democracies.
4. Tate agrees with this – see Tate’s first sentence. Wong didn’t mention freedom and autonomy, but presumably Wong agrees with this statement too. We’re looking for something both sides disagree about.
5. Wong didn’t even mention simple material needs. This can’t possibly be the answer.