LSAT 130 – Section 1 – Question 17

LSAT 130 - Section 1 - Question 17

September 2009

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT130 S1 Q17
+LR
Resolve reconcile or explain +RRE
Math +Math
A
10%
159
B
73%
165
C
1%
156
D
4%
159
E
12%
159
140
152
164
 +Medium 147.03 +SubsectionMedium

A survey taken ten years ago of residents of area L showed that although living conditions were slightly below their country’s average, most residents of L reported general satisfaction with their living conditions. However, this year the same survey found that while living conditions are now about the same as the national average, most residents of L report general dissatisfaction with their living conditions.

"Surprising" Phenomenon
Residents of L have become less satisfied with their living conditions despite their living conditions improving relative to the national average.

Objective
The correct answer will be a hypothesis that explains why residents of L have grown more dissatisfied with their living conditions as their living conditions approach the national average. The explanation must account for some change in the population over the 10-year period in question, or else provide a fact not accounted for in the stimulus about the residents’ living conditions.

A
Residents of area L typically value aspects of living conditions different from the aspects of living conditions that are valued by residents of adjacent areas.
This doesn’t explain why the residents of L have grown less satisfied with their own living conditions. We have to assume residents of L are judging on the same criteria as before.
B
Between the times that the two surveys were conducted, the average living conditions in L’s country had substantially declined.
True, residents of L are closer to the national average than before. But the national average is much worse than it was 10 years ago, hence why residents of L judge their living conditions negatively. This resolves the conflict.
C
Optimal living conditions were established in the survey by taking into account governmental policies and public demands on three continents.
Much like (A), we don’t really care who established the criteria. We need to know why residents of L are less satisfied with their living conditions as their living conditions align with the national average.
D
Living conditions in an area generally improve only if residents perceive their situation as somehow in need of improvement.
Residents of L were satisfied 10 years ago, but that didn’t mean they weren’t ready to make improvements. Besides, this doesn’t explain why they’ve become less satisfied.
E
Ten years ago the residents of area L were not aware that their living conditions were below the national average.
This doesn’t say that the residents of L are now aware of the national average, either. We need a comparative element.

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LSAT PrepTest 130 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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