LSAT 158 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q19

LR Question 19 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: It is widely known that the rescue squads serving high…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox

PARADOX: Rescue squads save a lot of climbers each year. But climbers think that the squads need to be eliminated to reduce the number of deaths.

ANALYSIS: Rescue squads save lives, so why would climbers attribute the increasing number of accidents to them? This would only make sense if something about the squads’ existence causes more accidents. For example, it could be that the squads act as a safety net or give climbers a false sense of safety, so they become more adventurous.

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1. This doesn’t explain why eliminating rescue squads would reduce the number of deaths. This answer is not saying the rescue squads are poorly trained or too low in number, and the stimulus clearly says the squads do save lives.
2. This is irrelevant. The stimulus talks about the “toll” of deaths, which refers to the actual number, not the recorded number.
    
   As for the recorded number, it could be that regions without squads record incorrectly high deaths tolls, and so recorded tolls decrease when a squad is formed. This answer doesn’t say which way the error goes.
3. We don’t care about “people who commonly take risks”. We only care about climbers, and this also doesn’t explain why rescue teams are causing more deaths. We also care about reality, not expectations. If someone climbs a mountain and doesn’t expect rescue, the rescue squad will still rescue them.
4. Okay…but how does this explain the rescue squads’ involvement? This doesn’t mention rescue squads at all! Eliminate. Rescue squads will still attempt to rescue the unprepared.
5. CORRECT. Climbers see rescue squads and think the risk is lower. Thus, more (less competent) climbers attempt to climb. This causes more accidents, which increases deaths.

Recap: The question begins with “It is widely known that the rescue squads serving high”. It is a Paradox question. Learn how to master LSAT Paradox questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.