LSAT 126 – Section 4 – Question 08

LSAT 126 - Section 4 - Question 08

October 2008

You need a full course to see this video. Enroll now and get started in less than a minute.

Request new explanation

Target time: 1:24

This is question data from the 7Sage LSAT Scorer. You can score your LSATs, track your results, and analyze your performance with pretty charts and vital statistics - all with a Free Account ← sign up in less than 10 seconds

Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT126 S4 Q08
+LR
+Exp
Point at issue: disagree +Disagr
Math +Math
A
85%
164
B
4%
156
C
2%
153
D
2%
158
E
7%
156
138
147
155
 +Medium 147.084 +SubsectionMedium

Larew: People in the lowest income quintile had a much higher percentage increase in average income over the last ten years than did those in the highest quintile. So their economic prosperity increased relative to the highest quintile’s.

Mendota: I disagree. The average income for the lowest quintile may have increased by a greater percentage, but the absolute amount of the increase in average income was surely greater for the highest quintile.

Speaker 1 Summary
Larew concludes that the lowest income quintile experienced a greater increase in economic prosperity than did the highest income quintile. This is because the lowest quintile’s average income increased by a greater percentage than the highest quintile’s increased.

Speaker 2 Summary
Mendota concludes that the lowest quintile’s economic prosperity did not improve more than the highest quintile’s improved. This is because the lowest quintile’s average income increased by a lower absolute amount than did the highest quintile’s.

Objective
We’re looking for a disagreement. The speakers disagree about whether the lowest quintile’s economic prosperity improved more than did the highest quintile’s, and about whether increases in economic prosperity are better measured by the percentage increase in average income or by the absolute amount of an increase.

A
change in the economic prosperity of the lowest income quintile relative to the highest is accurately measured by comparing their percentage changes in average income
This is a point of disagreement. Larew thinks change in economic prosperity is accurately measured by reference to percentage changes in average income. Mendota believes change in economic prosperity should be measured instead by the absolute amount of changes in income.
B
change in the economic prosperity of the lowest income quintile is more accurately measured in terms relative to the highest income quintile than in terms relative only to the lowest income quintile
Neither expresses an opinion. The speakers happen to compare the lowest quintile to the highest quintile. That doesn’t imply a belief that this comparison results in a better measure of change in prosperity for the lowest quintile than would a comparison to some other quintile.
C
changes in the average income of people in the lowest quintile should ever be compared to changes in the average income of people in the highest quintile
The speakers agree. Both speakers compare changes in average income between the lowest quintile and the highest quintile. Larew compares percentage increases, while Mentoda compares increases in absolute amount.
D
there were any improvements at all in the economic situation of those in the lowest income quintile during the ten years being considered
Not a point of disagreement. Larew believes there was at least some improvement in the lowest quintile’s economic situation. Mendota could agree that there was at least some improvement, just not as much as the improvement experienced by the highest quintile.
E
the average income of people in the lowest quintile increased by a greater percentage over the last decade than did that of people in the highest quintile
The speakers agree. Both acknowledge that the average income of the lowest quintile increased by a greater percentage than did that of the highest quintile.

Take PrepTest

Review Results

LSAT PrepTest 126 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

Get full LSAT course

Leave a Reply