LSAT 8 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q19

LR Question 19 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: A recent survey conducted in one North American city…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox – Exception

FACTS: A recent survey found that most people were concerned about drug use and school quality. They claimed they were willing to raise taxes to deal with these problems. Yet a recent vote to raise taxes to increase school funding failed to get majority support.

ANALYSIS: This is largely a survey bias question (answers A and B).

The other common theme in answer choices is that votes are not necessarily a clear expression of public will. If you vote for a candidate it doesn’t necessarily mean that you support them: you just might dislike the other candidate even more.

___________

1. This explains it. An unrepresentative survey is not much use.
2. If survey respondents aren’t honest then how can we trust the survey results?
3. This explains it. Perhaps voters would have supported the school funding if they could have voted for it separately.
4. CORRECT. This just adds to the confusion. People claimed to support fighting drug abuse but they voted down that proposal too.
5. It could be that people didn’t realize that they liked the plan. It was too unclear.

Recap: The question begins with “A recent survey conducted in one North American city”. It is a Paradox question. Learn how to master LSAT Paradox questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.