December 2004 Section 4 (#18)

[melissa27]

Can you please explain question #18, specifically why the respective answer choices are correct and the rest are incorrect.

Thank you!!

[Adam Tyson]

Sure, Melissa, and thanks for asking. First, this is a Must Be True question, because the stem asks us which of the answers is most supported by the stimulus, rather than the other way around. We know then to apply our fact test - if an answer brings in information that's not in the stimulus, it's a wrong answer. We should be able to point to the evidence in the stimulus that proves our answer choice.

The correct answer here is A. We know that planning cannot be maximally realistic (a confusing choice of words, intentionally done of course) because the second sentence tells us that decentralization ALWAYS permits MORE realistic planning. That must mean that centralized planning, with divisions not functioning autonomously, must be planning in ways that are less than 100% realistic. Otherwise, you couldn't get any more realistic when you decentralize.

The wrong answers either bring in new information or else generally lack support. B, for example - couldn't it be true that centralized institutions always encourage innovation? Sure, decentralized ones may do so more strongly, but is there any evidence that centralized ones don't do it at all?

C brings in new information of a sort - the disadvantages of decentralization. Since the stimulus only addressed some advantages and never made pro/con analysis, we can't accept that as a necessary statement.

For D, ask yourself whether it could be true that in centralized institutions, the administration might usually be responsible for only a small portion of the details. Again, this would require additional information that we don't have. We know that decentralization allows them to focus more on institution-wide issues, but we would only be speculating if we tried to draw conclusions about the role those central administrations play in those decisions.

E uses extreme language that is impossible to defend in this case. If even one time someone is unable to make a realistic and innovative decision, this one is disproved. Be suspicious of extremes like always and never, best and worst, etc.

Hope that helped!

Adam M. Tyson
PowerScore LSAT Instructor