Critic: As modern methods of communication and transportation have continued to improve, the pace of life today has become faster than ever before. This speed has created feelings of impermanence and instability, making us feel as if we never have enough time to achieve what we want—or at least what we think we want.
Summary
As modern ways of communication and transportation improve, the faster the pace of life has become. The faster the pace of life has become, the more we feel as if we never have enough time to achieve what we want or what we think we want.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Technological changes can result in changing the way people feel about life.
A
The fast pace of modern life has made it difficult for people to achieve their goals.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know whether or not it is difficult for people to achieve their goals in modern life.
B
The disadvantages of technological progress often outweigh the advantages.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus what the advantages are from technological progress. It could be that they vastly outweigh the disadvantages.
C
Changes in people’s feelings about life can result from technological changes.
This answer is strongly supported. This answer correctly states the causal relationship between improved technology and the way people feel.
D
The perception of impermanence in contemporary life makes it more difficult for people to know what they want.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus whether any of the technological improvements are impermanent.
E
Changes in people’s feelings fuel the need for technological advancement.
This answer is unsupported. This answer gets the causal relationship reversed. Rather, it’s technological advancement that fuels the changes in people’s feelings.
Kudos to the LSAT writers. They've out done themselves with this question. I hope you didn't spend too much time getting this one wrong.
The passage is tough to understand. The writers make us think that a problem was solved when really, the problem still exists, just pushed one layer down. Crafty, crafty!
Let's pretend you're a painter name van Gogh. You're fucking awesome and you know it. Problem is, no one else knows it. But, alas, despite your god like skills with a brush, your body still needs mortal nourishment, clothing, and shelter. That means you need money. That means (because this is the stupid 1800's), you need to find a wealthy patron... who wants you to paint his ugly children. You'd like to not compromise your artistic genius, to not sell out, so to speak. But of course, that's a highly probably occurrence since no wealthy patron recognizes or agrees with your godly aesthetics.
Here's where the LSAT writers come to "the rescue". They say, "wait, the wealthy are dispersed among the various schools of art in roughly equal proportion to their percentage in the overall population". So no worries van Gogh. Just join up with one of those schools of art and you're all set. You know, maybe that one over there, on the corner with the flashing neon sign.
You see how this doesn't solve your problem? Previously, it's the patrons that you'd have to pander to. Now, it's the schools of art you'd have to pander to. What's the difference? You have to pander either way. The problem was not solved, just pushed one layer down.
But, of course, it certainly felt like it was solved when you were reading the original passage didn't it? Good job, LSAT writers.
A
When car washes all used brushes rather than mitters, there were more cars on the road with scratched finishes than there are today.
B
Modern “brushless” car washes were introduced as a direct response to the use of clear-coat finishes on cars.
C
Modern “brushless” car washes usually do not produce visible scratches on cars with older finishes.
D
Brushes are more effective than mitters and are preferred for cleaning cars with older finishes.
E
More cars in use today have clear-coat finishes rather than older finishes.
Manager: I recommend that our company reconsider the decision to completely abandon our allegedly difficult-to-use computer software and replace it companywide with a new software package advertised as more flexible and easier to use. Several other companies in our region officially replaced the software we currently use with the new package, and while their employees can all use the new software, unofficially many continue to use their former software as much as possible.
Summary
The manager recommends that the company reconsider the decision to replace current software with a new software package. This is because several other companies in the region have done such replacement, but many employees at these companies continue to use their old software as much as possible.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Many employees at the manager’s company would probably continue to use the now-current software if it is replaced by the new software package.
The advantages of the new software package are unlikely to compel every employee to use it over the now-current software.
A
The current company software is as flexible as the proposed new software package.
Unsupported. The stimulus doesn’t tell us the flexibility of the current software or how it compares to the flexibility of the new software package.
B
The familiarity that employees have with a computer software package is a more important consideration in selecting software than flexibility or initial ease of use.
Unsupported. Although the manager suggests many will continue to use the current software, that could be due to its flexibility or ease of use. The new software is “advertised” as more flexible, but that doesn’t mean it is more flexible.
C
The employees of the manager’s company would find that the new software package lacks some of the capabilities of the present software.
Unsupported. Although the manager suggests many will continue to use the current software, we don’t know whether this will be due to any difference in capabilities of the software. It could be due to greater familiarity with current software.
D
Adopting the new software package would create two classes of employees, those who can use it and those who cannot.
Unsupported. There’s no indication that anyone will be unable to use the new software. Many will likely prefer to use the current software, but that doesn’t imply they lack the ability to use the new software.
E
Many of the employees in the manager’s company would not prefer the new software package to the software currently in use.
Strongly supported. The manager cites to the fact many employees from other companies chose to use their old software instead of the new software. The manager uses this to suggest that a similar phenomenon will occur at the manager’s company.