Hi valentina,
This question asks for the answer that is most similar/parallel to plaintiffs who pursue sex discrimination cases despite knowing the statistics provided by outcomes analysis.
The first step in answering this question is returning to the passage in order to see exactly what the passage states about this group. The key/relevant sentence appears in the second paragraph, "Although the odds are clearly against the plaintiffs in sex discrimination cases, plaintiffs who believe that their cause is just and they will prevail are not swayed by such evidence" (lines 19-22).
The two key points in this sentence are (1) that these plaintiffs will continue pursuing their case because of their personal beliefs that they will win (2) despite the evidence that suggests they will not win.
Generalizing from this, we're looking for a group of people who continue doing some behavior due to personal belief that the behavior works despite evidence that it does not work.
It is absolutely critical to prephrase the answer for questions like this as it will help you avoid answers that don't parallel exactly what you need from the passage.
With this prephrase in mind, Answer A comes closest to what we want. The athletes continue training techniques despite having evidence that the techniques are unlikely to work. While this answer doesn't specifically state that the athletes continue these training techniques due to their personal beliefs, this is implied. (Why else would they continue to use these techniques despite the evidence?)
Answer D is wrong because it does not match our prephrase and the description in the passage. First, there is no discussion in the passage of the plaintiffs recruiting others to their cause to add legitimacy. Second, Answer D does not mention the contrary evidence, which is the key part of the plaintiffs discussed in the passage.
As to your side question, this LSAT, which was administered in December 1997, has been PrepTest #24 according to LSAC's numbering system of released LSATs for over 20 years.
For better or worse, the times they are a changing for the LSAT. As you have likely heard, the logic games section of the LSAT will be removed starting in August.
Due to this rather significant change to the test, LSAC is now providing older LSATs with the Logic Games sections removed as practice tests for future test takers. In order to avoid confusion, LSAC is renumbering the old tests.
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.lsac.org/blog/practice-test ... acs-lawhub
As we still have one last LSAT with logic games in June, the December 1997 LSAT is still listed as PrepTest #24 and includes the logic games!
For this old-timer, it will always be PrepTest #24 in my heart and will always include my favorite section, logic games!
