LR Supplemental Problem Set 2

[satipod]

Hi, I had a question about a resolve the paradox question in this set.
I don't know why, no matter how I look at it, #179 just makes no sense to me.

I don't see why it's not clicking, but I'm thinking one of the Powerscore geniuses will be able to help a sister out! Thank you!

I don't see how the credited response resolves the paradox and I think it's something that i'm missing in the way the stimulus comes together.

[Adam Tyson]

Hey there satipod - I'm sorry, but none of the geniuses are available today! Instead you get me, and I'll do my best.

This one is tough, in my opinion. Let's start by making sure we understand the paradox before we try to resolve it. First, recently it's been cooler than normal in Northern Asia. Second, when things got a little warmer than normal, crop yields increased. Third, in the future we expect that "normal" will be warmer than it is now. We would expect the increased normal temperature to result in higher crop yields, but we are then given the paradoxical result that crop yields are expected to go down.

We're looking for an answer that would explain decreased crop yields (compared to current yields) despite warmer temps, right? So we are either looking for something extra that will happen under the new "normal" temps that will depress yields, or else something current that is somehow inflating the yields.

It's subtle, but answer choice C gives us an explanation for current yields being higher than would otherwise be expected. If the recent lower-than-normal temps have impacted insect pests, then there must have been fewer than normal pests eating the crops, so yields have been higher than they otherwise would have been. As "normal" warm up in the future, we'll have more insect pests, which will eat the crops, thereby reducing the yields.

Did that help?

Adam M. Tyson
PowerScore LSAT Instructor

p.s. If you plan on taking the test tomorrow, I hope you are taking the day off today from any serious studying. Take a nap! Read a novel! Watch mindless TV! Make sure you eat good healthy meals and get plenty of sleep tonight. Good luck!