LSAT 143 – Section 1 – Question 19

LSAT 143 - Section 1 - Question 19

June 2015

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT143 S1 Q19
+LR
Resolve reconcile or explain +RRE
Causal Reasoning +CausR
Net Effect +NetEff
Math +Math
A
2%
156
B
86%
165
C
2%
157
D
7%
157
E
3%
158
139
147
156
 +Medium 148.401 +SubsectionMedium

Economist: Although average hourly wages vary considerably between different regions of this country, in each region, the average hourly wage for full-time jobs increased last year. Paradoxically, however, in the country as a whole, the average hourly wage for full-time jobs decreased last year.

"Surprising" Phenomenon

Why did the average hourly wage for full-time jobs increase in each region of the country last year, but decrease in the country as a whole?

Objective

The correct answer will be a hypothesis that explains how the average hourly wage for full-time jobs increased in each region last year, even though it decreased nationwide. It must show some change in the country’s higher-paid jobs. Those jobs were either eliminated or were somehow paid less, while still raising the average wage in each region.

A
In the country as a whole, the average hourly wage for full-time jobs has decreased slightly for each of the last three years.

We already know that the average hourly wage decreased last year and the fact that it decreased over the last three years is not relevant. Instead, we need to know how it increased in each region of the country last year, even though it decreased in the country as a whole.

B
Last year, to reduce costs, employers moved many full-time jobs from regions with relatively high hourly wages to regions where those jobs typically pay much less.

This helps to explain the paradox. As many jobs moved from higher-paying to lower-paying regions, the national average hourly wage decreased, but it could still increase in each region.

C
The year before last, the unemployment rate reached a ten-year low; last year, however, the unemployment rate increased slightly.

The country’s unemployment rate does not affect its average hourly wage. Regardless of unemployment, we know that the average hourly wage increased in each region but decreased nationwide and we need an answer that helps to explain this paradox.

D
Last year, the rate at which the average hourly wage for full-time jobs increased varied considerably between different regions of the country.

Regardless of its rate of increase, we know that the average hourly wage for full-time jobs increased in each region. (D) doesn’t help to explain how the average hourly wage decreased nationwide, given the fact that it increased in each region.

E
Last year, hourly wages for most full-time jobs in the manufacturing sector declined while those for most full-time jobs in the service sector increased.

We’re only concerned about the change in the average hourly wage for full-time jobs overall. It doesn't matter which jobs saw pay increases or decreases, just that the average hourly wage rose in each region but fell nationwide.

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LSAT PrepTest 143 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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