LSAT 72, Reading Comprehension, Q22, LSATHacks

RC Question 22 Explanation, by LSATHacks

DISCUSSION: I misread this question and got it wrong as a result. I thought the question stem said “both passages answer which of the following questions?”. That’s a common reading comprehension question type. 

But actually, the question says both passages are “concerned with” answering the question in the right answer. That’s a far looser standard – it means both passages aim to discuss the issue in the. Passage B doesn’t explicitly say flat taxes are unfair, but the whole passage is most definitely “concerned with” the fairness of taxation systems.

___________

1. Both authors seem to take it for granted that a flat tax can be implemented. So they’re not concerned with answering the question.
2. Passage B answers this question in the first paragraph. Passage A does not seem to answer it.
3. CORRECT. Lines 9-17 in passage A are concerned with the fairness of a flat tax system.
   Passage B is a bit trickier. Paragraph 1 introduces the topic of fairness (related to a progressive tax). Paragraph 2 discusses how dollars are not equal and matter more to the poor. The 3rd paragraph then criticizes flat taxes. Lines 51-53 criticize flat taxes (with a question). Then lines 55-59 say that the rich will pay less and the middle class more. Since the middle class need dollars more than the rich, it’s implied that this is unfair.
   Passage B is an argument. The first paragraph was about fairness, so it only makes sense to read paragraphs 2 and 3 in terms of fairness. 
4. I originally chose this answer. I thought lines 21-25 were passage A’s criticism of progressive tax systems (they encourage tax evasion) and I thought lines 30-39 showed passage B responded to some incorrect criticisms of progressive taxation.
   The problem is that passage B isn’t concerned with identifying objections to progressive taxes. It’s just something they mention by the way. Passage B is concerned with describing how flat taxes are unfair.
5. Passage A says flat taxes reduce avoidance, but passage B never discusses this. 

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