Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT10 S1 Q14 Explanation

Once consumers recognize that

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsParadox

Keep going in LSAT Lab

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Free to start

Full official LSAT questions are available through LawHub. This page provides LSAT Lab's explanation, strategy, and review tools without republishing the full official question.

Stimulus

Once consumers recognize that a period of inflation has begun, there is generally an increase in consumer spending. This increase can be readily explained by consumers’ desire not to postpone purchases that will surely increase in price. But during protracted periods of inflation, consumers eventually begin to put off making even routine rise and despite the fact that salaries also rise during inflationary periods.

What this question is testing

Paradox

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
14.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the apparent inconsistency in consumer

Answer choices

  1. Trap7% picked this

    During times of inflation consumers save more money than they do

  2. Trap17% picked this

    There is usually a lag between the leading economic indicators’ first signaling the onset of an inflationary period and

  3. Trap1% picked this

    No generalization that describes human behavior will be true of every type

  4. Trap6% picked this

    If significant numbers of consumers are unable to make purchases, prices will eventually fall but salaries will

  5. Correct69% picked this

    Consumers’ purchasing power decreases during periods of protracted inflation since salaries do not keep

    Why this is right

    Answer E is correct.

    Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free