Reading ComprehensionDifficulty: Medium

PT157 S1 P4 Q25 ExplanationEnvironmental Effects of International Debt

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Reading Comprehension question.

TopicsParagraph PurposeScience

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Passage

Some environmentalists claim that the higher the international debt a nation carries, the more likely it is that the quality of life in that nation will suffer. These environmentalists argue that in a variety of ways the effort a nation must expend to pay its debt hastens the depletion of its natural example, through the elimination of government subsidies for practices that reduce pollution or conserve natural resources.

But the evidence for the environmentalists’ claims is weak. With respect to the exports promotion hypothesis, one recent study does suggest a positive correlation between international debt and deforestation, but also indicates that other factors besides debt may play a stronger role. Another study found only a slight positive correlation between debt of the fiscal discipline or economic restructuring imposed by debt may rein in potentially harmful spending.

What this question is testing

Paragraph Purpose

Anticipate

The second paragraph is the author's rebuttal. It goes through the environmentalists' arguments one by one and shows why the evidence does not hold up. It is a critical examination, not a wholesale rejection or a new proposal.

Goal

Find "critically examine" or something equivalent.

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The question
25.

What is the main purpose of the author’s discussion in the

Answer choices, explained

  1. Too Strong2% picked this

    to argue that international debt can enhance a nation’s quality

    The author never argues debt enhances quality of life. The conclusion is that the connection is unknown, not that debt is beneficial.

  2. Correct74% picked this

    to examine critically the specific arguments put forward by

    Why this is right

    The second paragraph systematically evaluates the exports promotion hypothesis and the domestic spending argument, finding both insufficiently supported.

    Skill tested: Paragraph Purpose · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

  3. Unsupported4% picked this

    to propose a study that investigates the relation between international debt

    The author does not propose a study. The author notes that certain effects have not been studied, but the paragraph's purpose is to evaluate existing arguments, not to design future research.

  4. Too Strong9% picked this

    to argue that there is no relation between international debt and a nation’s

    The author never claims there is "no relation" between debt and quality of life. The author says the extent of the connection is unknown.

  5. Wrong Emphasis12% picked this

    to question the sources of evidence for the claims of

    The author does not question the sources of evidence but rather questions whether the evidence supports the conclusions drawn from it.

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