Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT133 S3 Q8 Explanation

Energy analyst: During

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

Energy analyst: During this record-breaking heat wave, air conditioner use has overloaded the region's electrical power grid, resulting in frequent power blackouts throughout the region. For this reason, residents have been asked to cut back voluntarily on air conditioner use in their homes. will probably occur unless the heat wave abates.

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
8.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in

Answer choices

  1. Deepens the Paradox26% picked this

    Air-conditioning is not the only significant drain on the electrical system

    This acknowledges that air-conditioning is a significant drain on the electrical system and so reducing one’s air conditioning use should have an impact on frequent blackouts.

  2. Correct66% picked this

    Most air-conditioning in the region is used to cool businesses

    Why this is right

    This points out the mechanism by which requesting residents to cut back on their electricity would not reduce the likelihood of frequent power blackouts.

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

  3. Deepens the Paradox1% picked this

    Most air-conditioning systems could be made more energy efficient by implementing

    This acknowledges that air-conditioning is a significant drain on the electrical system and so reducing one’s air conditioning use should have an impact on frequent blackouts.

  4. Out of Scope7% picked this

    Residents of the region are not likely to reduce their air conditioner use voluntarily during

    The apparent discrepancy is about why residents heeding the call to reduce air conditioning would not have an impact on frequent blackouts.

  5. Deepens the Paradox0% picked this

    The heat wave is expected to abate in the

    Why would reducing air conditioning use not impact the frequent power blackouts.

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