- PowerScore Staff
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- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Tue Jun 27, 2017 2:30 pm
#36440
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14496)
The correct answer choice is (E)
You should select a response that either refl ects some detail of the passage or adequately mirrors the
main point of the passage.
The only Contenders to answer this question are answer choices (B), (D) and (E). Answer choices
(A) and (C) are somewhat contradictory to the passage, and can normally be eliminated fairly
quickly. When evaluating the Contenders, it is not diffi cult to dispose of answer choice (D), because
there is no evidence to determine for how long communities have argued for community-controlled
relief. A greater diffi culty, for some test takers, lies in eliminating answer choice (B). Some test
takers will feel that the experts would not recommend that the communities develop plans unless the
communities currently do not make such efforts, and that since the donors and relief agencies have
created such debacles in certain communities, there is de facto evidence that they fail to recognize
potential problems. Perhaps, in that case, the best reason for choosing answer choice (E) and
eliminating answer choice (B) is that answer choice (E) so clearly summarizes the second paragraph,
whereas answer choice (B) merely consists of conclusions that someone might draw based on the
passage. You should remember that on the LSAT a choice that is “supported” can be a summary
or a restatement, and that such responses are always preferred to choices that express probable
conclusions.
Answer choice (A): There are two reasons to eliminate this answer. First, although the recent
disasters have caused a reevaluation of how aid is distributed, there is no evidence that the recent
disasters “aggravated” the ineffi ciencies already present. Second, there is no direct evidence that
relief agencies have “limited resources” or that in recent years there has been “increased demands”
on those resources.
Answer choice (B): The experts recommend that communities form plans through grassroots
discussion, but that does not mean that communities have had “little interest” in taking responsibility.
Disaster-prone communities could want to take responsibility, but simply be ill-equipped or lack
proper leadership, among other factors.
This answer choice also makes an unjustifi ed claim that donors and agencies have not been aware
of “potential problems.” While it may be true that their efforts are often untargeted and ineffi cient,
that does not imply that they have no idea of potential problems. For example, it is not diffi cult to
predict that a low-lying coastal region has a risk of fl ooding, and to predict the accompanying rescue
and recovery problems. Just because donors and agencies might not respond in the best possible way
for a community does not mean that those donors and agencies could not tell there was a potential
problem.
Answer choice (C): This response is contrary to the passage, and should be eliminated immediately.
The passage explicitly stated that “communities” are questioning traditional methods (lines 1-
6). Even though you could argue that the passage does not specify whether those communities
are the disaster-prone communities, it is fairly implausible to believe that for some reason, many
communities that are never disaster-prone would be interested, but no disaster-prone communities
would care.
Answer choice (D): This is a somewhat attractive choice, but since the passage does not wholly
support the claim that communities have “long argued” for community control of disaster response,
this response is wrong. It is reasonable to believe from the second paragraph that communities have
recognized problems for some time, but that does not allow you to conclude that those communities
have defi nitely argued for control before recent years. Remember, it is perfectly acceptable to
eliminate a choice that is very likely contradictory, but you should not select a choice simply because
it is possibly supported.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Essentially, this response expresses the
point of the second paragraph. Part of the argument for community-controlled efforts is that outside
agencies have frequently proven ineffi cient and harmful because they do not understand or account
for the specifi c community situation. This response adequately expresses that portion of the passage,
so the passage defi nitely supports this choice.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14496)
The correct answer choice is (E)
You should select a response that either refl ects some detail of the passage or adequately mirrors the
main point of the passage.
The only Contenders to answer this question are answer choices (B), (D) and (E). Answer choices
(A) and (C) are somewhat contradictory to the passage, and can normally be eliminated fairly
quickly. When evaluating the Contenders, it is not diffi cult to dispose of answer choice (D), because
there is no evidence to determine for how long communities have argued for community-controlled
relief. A greater diffi culty, for some test takers, lies in eliminating answer choice (B). Some test
takers will feel that the experts would not recommend that the communities develop plans unless the
communities currently do not make such efforts, and that since the donors and relief agencies have
created such debacles in certain communities, there is de facto evidence that they fail to recognize
potential problems. Perhaps, in that case, the best reason for choosing answer choice (E) and
eliminating answer choice (B) is that answer choice (E) so clearly summarizes the second paragraph,
whereas answer choice (B) merely consists of conclusions that someone might draw based on the
passage. You should remember that on the LSAT a choice that is “supported” can be a summary
or a restatement, and that such responses are always preferred to choices that express probable
conclusions.
Answer choice (A): There are two reasons to eliminate this answer. First, although the recent
disasters have caused a reevaluation of how aid is distributed, there is no evidence that the recent
disasters “aggravated” the ineffi ciencies already present. Second, there is no direct evidence that
relief agencies have “limited resources” or that in recent years there has been “increased demands”
on those resources.
Answer choice (B): The experts recommend that communities form plans through grassroots
discussion, but that does not mean that communities have had “little interest” in taking responsibility.
Disaster-prone communities could want to take responsibility, but simply be ill-equipped or lack
proper leadership, among other factors.
This answer choice also makes an unjustifi ed claim that donors and agencies have not been aware
of “potential problems.” While it may be true that their efforts are often untargeted and ineffi cient,
that does not imply that they have no idea of potential problems. For example, it is not diffi cult to
predict that a low-lying coastal region has a risk of fl ooding, and to predict the accompanying rescue
and recovery problems. Just because donors and agencies might not respond in the best possible way
for a community does not mean that those donors and agencies could not tell there was a potential
problem.
Answer choice (C): This response is contrary to the passage, and should be eliminated immediately.
The passage explicitly stated that “communities” are questioning traditional methods (lines 1-
6). Even though you could argue that the passage does not specify whether those communities
are the disaster-prone communities, it is fairly implausible to believe that for some reason, many
communities that are never disaster-prone would be interested, but no disaster-prone communities
would care.
Answer choice (D): This is a somewhat attractive choice, but since the passage does not wholly
support the claim that communities have “long argued” for community control of disaster response,
this response is wrong. It is reasonable to believe from the second paragraph that communities have
recognized problems for some time, but that does not allow you to conclude that those communities
have defi nitely argued for control before recent years. Remember, it is perfectly acceptable to
eliminate a choice that is very likely contradictory, but you should not select a choice simply because
it is possibly supported.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Essentially, this response expresses the
point of the second paragraph. Part of the argument for community-controlled efforts is that outside
agencies have frequently proven ineffi cient and harmful because they do not understand or account
for the specifi c community situation. This response adequately expresses that portion of the passage,
so the passage defi nitely supports this choice.
