#22 - Global Reference, Must Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14276)

GR, Must. The correct answer choice is (C)

This question asks for a concern of both passages; both authors discuss flat and progressive taxes and
whether the various systems are fair.

Answer choice (A): Neither author questions whether a flat tax can be implemented, so this choice
can be quickly ruled out of contention.

Answer choice (B): Only the second passage deals with this issue, so this cannot be the right answer
choice.

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed above, both authors discuss
the issue of whether or not a flat tax can be fair to all taxpayers.

Answer choice (D): Neither author discusses objections to progressive taxes (although the first
author discusses objections to flat taxes).

Answer choice (E): Only the first author deals with tax avoidance, so this cannot be the correct
response to this question.

[jennie]

I don't think Passage B discusses whether a flat tax rate can be fair--it is only the concern of Passage A. B instead discusses whether a graduated progressive tax rate is fair. I think Answer (D) is correct because both passages discuss objections to progressive taxes with A on the opportunities of tax avoidance for the rich and B on "unfairness" claimed by some.

[Rachael Wilkenfeld]

Hi Jennie,

Let's talk about answer (D) first, then circle back around to (C).

With (D), Passage B does indicate some objections to progressive taxes, as you pointed out, by stating that they are sometimes criticized as "unfair." But Passage A doesn't set out objections to progressive taxes, as much as describe one potential problem with them. That's not an objection---it's not describing a critic's point of view. It's just stating one potential outcome of progressive taxation schemes.

With (C) both passages address the fairness of the flax tax. In Passage A, the author discusses fairness issues in lines 10-15. In Passage B, you can see the discussion of fairness of the flat tax around line 50, when discussing the fairness of the survival dollars versus discretionary dollars. For author B, the flat tax isn't fair because it pushes the burden onto the middle class.

Hope that helps!
Rachael