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- Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:00 am
#57195
Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=7326)
The correct answer choice is (C)
Given that three of the rules directly reference Y, it is not surprising that there is a pair of crops that Y cannot export. And, as you might expect, the reasoning behind the inference centers on the way these rules interact with the Numerical Distribution.
To initially attack this question, most students link the second and third rules together and immediately look for R and S as the answer. This is exactly the right approach, because if Y exports R and S, then the Numerical Distribution would be violated since S would be exported twice (from the second rule) and T would be exported twice (from the third rule). However, the test makers choose not to use R and S as the answer to this problem.
Focusing on R and S is not a mistake, and the role played by R ultimately leads to the correct answer. When Y exports R we know from the third rule that both X and Z must export T. Thus, if Y tried to export T in addition to R, the result would be a violation of the Numerical Distribution because all three nations would export T. Thus, Y cannot export both R and T, and answer choice (C) is correct. Note that the reasoning behind this question is very similar to that in question #21, another Global, Cannot be true question.
If you did not see the reasoning path behind the correct answer, remember that you can always rely on hypotheticals to attack and eliminate answers. This approach works perfectly on a question such as this one, where you will immediately see why a certain pair of answer would or would not work.
If you have very little time to solve this problem, one way to make an informed guess would be to consider each of the five answers by their similarities to other answer choices. For example, O and W are functionally interchangeable variables in this game. Answer choices (A) and (D), which pair R with O and W, respectively, are therefore very similar in the results they produce and are less likely to be correct. The same reasoning holds for answer choices (B) and (E), which pair S with O and W, respectively. Remember, the correct answer to any LSAT problem must be wholly unique, and if two answer choices are functionally identical, then both answers are incorrect. Using this reasoning, we can eliminate the four incorrect answer choices in this problem, leaving only answer choice (C).
Answer choices (A) and (D): These two answers can be eliminated by the following hypothetical, which uses a dual-option to show how R and either O or W can be exported by Y without causing a problem. To eliminate (A), simply consider the scenario as if Y exported O and R; to eliminate (D), consider the scenario in reverse, as if Y exported W and R.
Answer choices (B) and (E): These two answers can be eliminated by the following hypothetical, which uses a dual-option to show how S and either O or W can be exported by Y without causing a problem. To eliminate (B), simply consider the scenario as if Y exported S and O; to eliminate (E), consider the scenario in reverse, as if Y exported S and W.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If Y exports both R and T, then all three nations would export T, violating the Numerical Distribution and not leaving sufficient room to export the other three crops.
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=7326)
The correct answer choice is (C)
Given that three of the rules directly reference Y, it is not surprising that there is a pair of crops that Y cannot export. And, as you might expect, the reasoning behind the inference centers on the way these rules interact with the Numerical Distribution.
To initially attack this question, most students link the second and third rules together and immediately look for R and S as the answer. This is exactly the right approach, because if Y exports R and S, then the Numerical Distribution would be violated since S would be exported twice (from the second rule) and T would be exported twice (from the third rule). However, the test makers choose not to use R and S as the answer to this problem.
Focusing on R and S is not a mistake, and the role played by R ultimately leads to the correct answer. When Y exports R we know from the third rule that both X and Z must export T. Thus, if Y tried to export T in addition to R, the result would be a violation of the Numerical Distribution because all three nations would export T. Thus, Y cannot export both R and T, and answer choice (C) is correct. Note that the reasoning behind this question is very similar to that in question #21, another Global, Cannot be true question.
If you did not see the reasoning path behind the correct answer, remember that you can always rely on hypotheticals to attack and eliminate answers. This approach works perfectly on a question such as this one, where you will immediately see why a certain pair of answer would or would not work.
If you have very little time to solve this problem, one way to make an informed guess would be to consider each of the five answers by their similarities to other answer choices. For example, O and W are functionally interchangeable variables in this game. Answer choices (A) and (D), which pair R with O and W, respectively, are therefore very similar in the results they produce and are less likely to be correct. The same reasoning holds for answer choices (B) and (E), which pair S with O and W, respectively. Remember, the correct answer to any LSAT problem must be wholly unique, and if two answer choices are functionally identical, then both answers are incorrect. Using this reasoning, we can eliminate the four incorrect answer choices in this problem, leaving only answer choice (C).
Answer choices (A) and (D): These two answers can be eliminated by the following hypothetical, which uses a dual-option to show how R and either O or W can be exported by Y without causing a problem. To eliminate (A), simply consider the scenario as if Y exported O and R; to eliminate (D), consider the scenario in reverse, as if Y exported W and R.
Answer choices (B) and (E): These two answers can be eliminated by the following hypothetical, which uses a dual-option to show how S and either O or W can be exported by Y without causing a problem. To eliminate (B), simply consider the scenario as if Y exported S and O; to eliminate (E), consider the scenario in reverse, as if Y exported S and W.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If Y exports both R and T, then all three nations would export T, violating the Numerical Distribution and not leaving sufficient room to export the other three crops.
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Dave Killoran
PowerScore Test Preparation
Follow me on X/Twitter at http://twitter.com/DaveKilloran
My LSAT Articles: http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/author/dave-killoran
PowerScore Podcast: http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/podcast/
PowerScore Test Preparation
Follow me on X/Twitter at http://twitter.com/DaveKilloran
My LSAT Articles: http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/author/dave-killoran
PowerScore Podcast: http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/podcast/
