LSAT 132 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q26

LR Question 26 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Sociologist: A recent study of 5,000 individuals found…

QUESTION TYPE: Paradox – Exception

PARADOX: Older people are more likely to be malnourished than to be below the poverty line. Younger people are more likely to fall below the poverty line than to be malnourished.

ANALYSIS: You can’t really prephrase this type of question. Instead, just remember what you’re looking for. You’re looking for something that explains the difference between the two groups.

Note that we don’t know how many people under 65 are poor. We just know that more of them are poor than malnourished. Here are some possible numbers for those under 65:

1. Malnourished: 97% Poor: 99%
2. Malnourished: 3% Poor: 73%
3. Malnourished: 17% Poor: 43%
4. Malnourished 1% Poor: 2%

In each case, their poverty rate is higher than the malnourishment rate. That’s all we know. We have no idea if younger people are more/less poor than older people, or more/less malnourished.

___________

1. This explains the higher malnutrition rate in older people: their malnutrition goes untreated.
2. This is a relevant difference. Older people have deficiencies caused by medications.
3. This also explains malnutrition. You need to eat to get nutrients.
4. CORRECT. See the analysis section. It actually doesn’t matter how many younger people fall into poverty, as long as fewer of them fall into malnutrition.
5. This also gives a relevant difference. You need digestion to get nutrients.

Recap: The question begins with “Sociologist: A recent study of 5,000 individuals found”. It is a Paradox – Exception question. To practice more Paradox – Exception questions, have a look at the LSAT Questions by Type page.