LSAT 147 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q5

LR Question 5 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Recently, many traffic lights and street markings were…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

ARGUMENTS: Accidents went down when street signs were removed.

ANALYSIS: Clearly, the street signs must be causing accidents (or, lack of them is helping in some way). So, look for an answer which says “Street signs dangerous” or “lack of street signs helpful”.

___________

1. This is a trap. This doesn’t show that street signs were dangerous. It just shows that they were useless.
2. CORRECT. Cautious driving is safe driving. This shows that people were more careful without street signs, therefore reducing accidents.
3. This makes things more confusing. If people generally didn’t notice the removal, then why did it make a difference?

4. This explains why people want street signs. But it’s irrelevant because:

   1. intentions don’t explain effects
   2. We only care about the change in safety. Other goals aren’t relevant to this specific conclusion.
5. So? If I give you advance notice that I’m going to work tomorrow, I wouldn’t expect that to change anything in your life.
    
   The point is that people’s behavior changed once the street signs were gone.