Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT123 S3 Q2 Explanation

After replacing his old gas water

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

After replacing his old gas water heater with a new, pilotless, gas water heater that is rated as gas bills increased.

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
2.

Each of the following, if true, contributes to an explanation of the increase

Answer choices

  1. Correct91% picked this

    The new water heater uses a smaller percentage of the gas used by Jimmy’s household than

    Why this is right

    This deepens the paradox since it implies that Jimmy’s new water heater used less gas than before.

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

  2. Resolves the Paradox3% picked this

    Shortly after the new water heater was installed, Jimmy’s uncle came to live with him, doubling the

    This provides a change that could explain why Jimmy’s gas bill increased.

  3. Resolves the Paradox2% picked this

    After having done his laundry at a laundromat, Jimmy bought and started using a gas dryer when he

    This provides a change that could explain why Jimmy’s gas bill increased.

  4. Resolves the Paradox3% picked this

    Jimmy’s utility company raised the rates for gas consumption following installation of the

    This provides a change that could explain why Jimmy’s gas bill increased.

  5. Resolves the Paradox1% picked this

    Unusually cold weather following installation of the new water heater resulted in

    This provides a change that could explain why Jimmy’s gas bill increased.

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