LSAT 140 – Section 1 – Question 20

LSAT 140 - Section 1 - Question 20

December 2013

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT140 S1 Q20
+LR
Resolve reconcile or explain +RRE
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Net Effect +NetEff
Math +Math
A
21%
163
B
9%
161
C
49%
168
D
17%
160
E
4%
160
156
165
175
 +Hardest 148.137 +SubsectionMedium

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Adjusted for inflation, the income earned from wool sales by a certain family of Australian sheep farmers grew substantially during the period from 1840 to 1860. This is because the price for wool sold on the international market was higher than the price paid on domestic markets and the percentage and amount of its wool that this family sold internationally increased dramatically during that period. But even though the family generated more income from selling their wool, they failed to enjoy a commensurate increase in prosperity.

"Surprising" Phenomenon
Between 1840 and 1860, why did the family fail to enjoy an increase in prosperity that corresponded to their increase in wool-income, which derived from the family’s increase in amount of wool sold internationally?

Objective
The correct answer should tell us about something that changed over 1840 to 1860 that might have led the family to either make less money or have greater expenses.

A
At the end of the 1800s, prices in general in Australia rose more rapidly than did the wholesale price of wool sold domestically.
What happened at the “end of the 1800s” won’t explain what happened to the family between 1840 and 1860. And, the family’s wool-income increased from international sales, so general prices increasing faster than domestic wool prices increased has no impact.
B
The prices of wool sold to domestic markets by Australian sheep farmers decreased dramatically during the period in question.
The family’s wool-income increased due to greater international sales. Even if the family made less wool-income from domestic sales, we already know their overall wool-income increased because of international sales.
C
The international and domestic prices for mutton, sheepskins, and certain other products produced by all Australian sheep farmers fell sharply during the period in question.
If prices for these non-wool products sold by the family fell sharply, that could have offset the increased income from wool-sales. This shows why overall income for the family might not have increased, even if wool-income did.
D
Competition in wool sales increased during the period in question, leaving Australian wool producers in a less favorable position than previously.
Even if Australian wool producers in general were in a less favorable position than previously, we already know this family increased their wool-income. This answer doesn’t suggest why the family’s prosperity might not have increased along with their wool-income.
E
Among Australian sheep farmers, the percentage who made their living exclusively from international wool sales increased significantly during the period in question.
We already know this family increased its wool-income from international sales. Whether other farmers exclusively sold internationally doesn’t tell us why this particular family might not have seen an increase in prosperity along with its increase in wool-income.

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LSAT PrepTest 140 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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