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- Fri May 13, 2016 10:12 am
#24499
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E)
In this stimulus two seemingly contradictory facts are presented: One, “proven oil reserves—the amount of oil considered ‘extractable’” are at the same level as ten years ago; Two, no new fields “of any consequence” have been discovered and consumption of “domestically produced oil has increased.” Pay close attention to the “extractable” definition in the dashes; the LSAT writers include this peripheral information for a reason. It is the key to the answer. Basically, there are the same fields that have the same amount of oil, but consumption has increased over ten years. We need to find an answer that explains how both of these facts can be true.
Answer Choice (A): This answer choice introduces the idea of “imported oil,” and may sound true and apropos to the current economy. However, it does not reconcile the apparent paradox, which deals exclusively with domestic oil. This answer is not relevant.
Answer Choice (B): This answer choice deals with the second statement in the stimulus and qualifies it somewhat, but does not change it significantly. Even if “conservation measures” have “lowered the rate of growth,” there is still growth and the paradox of the stimulus still is not resolved.
Answer Choice (C): This answer choice is entirely unrelated. It may explain why no new fields have been discovered, but it does not address the paradox in any way. This is a politically correct answer because it introduces “environmental concerns;” do not be tempted.
Answer Choice (D): This answer choice introduces the idea of the price of oil. If we assume this to be true, it does not explain the paradox. This may explain why consumption has increased, but not how the reserves have remained the same over ten years.
Answer Choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It demonstrates the importance of a single word, “extractable,” in the stimulus. Although no new fields have been discovered, the old fields have been made to produce more oil. This explains how the oil reserves can match the level from ten years ago despite the consumption increase.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E)
In this stimulus two seemingly contradictory facts are presented: One, “proven oil reserves—the amount of oil considered ‘extractable’” are at the same level as ten years ago; Two, no new fields “of any consequence” have been discovered and consumption of “domestically produced oil has increased.” Pay close attention to the “extractable” definition in the dashes; the LSAT writers include this peripheral information for a reason. It is the key to the answer. Basically, there are the same fields that have the same amount of oil, but consumption has increased over ten years. We need to find an answer that explains how both of these facts can be true.
Answer Choice (A): This answer choice introduces the idea of “imported oil,” and may sound true and apropos to the current economy. However, it does not reconcile the apparent paradox, which deals exclusively with domestic oil. This answer is not relevant.
Answer Choice (B): This answer choice deals with the second statement in the stimulus and qualifies it somewhat, but does not change it significantly. Even if “conservation measures” have “lowered the rate of growth,” there is still growth and the paradox of the stimulus still is not resolved.
Answer Choice (C): This answer choice is entirely unrelated. It may explain why no new fields have been discovered, but it does not address the paradox in any way. This is a politically correct answer because it introduces “environmental concerns;” do not be tempted.
Answer Choice (D): This answer choice introduces the idea of the price of oil. If we assume this to be true, it does not explain the paradox. This may explain why consumption has increased, but not how the reserves have remained the same over ten years.
Answer Choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It demonstrates the importance of a single word, “extractable,” in the stimulus. Although no new fields have been discovered, the old fields have been made to produce more oil. This explains how the oil reserves can match the level from ten years ago despite the consumption increase.