LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, does most to explain the apparent counterexample described above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Paradox question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the passage and understand what it's saying. The passage states that people often associate high prices with high quality, but price is not necessarily an indicator of quality. The example given is that the best teas are often no more expensive than lower-quality teas. This seems counterintuitive, as we would expect high-quality teas to be more expensive than low-quality ones.

The question type here is a Paradox question, which asks us to resolve the apparent contradiction in the passage.

Now let's go through each answer choice and see how they relate to the passage:

a) Packaging and advertising triple the price of all teas.

This answer choice doesn't help resolve the paradox, as it affects both high-quality and low-quality teas equally. It doesn't explain why high-quality teas are not more expensive than low-quality teas.

b) Most people buy low-quality tea, thus keeping its price up.

This answer choice resolves the paradox by explaining why low-quality teas might have higher prices. If most people buy low-quality tea, the demand for it is high, which can drive the price up. This doesn't necessarily mean that the supply of low-quality tea will increase to drive the price back down. As a result, the high demand for low-quality tea can keep its price up, making it similar to or even higher than the price of high-quality tea.

c) All types of tea are subject to high import tariffs.

This answer choice doesn't help resolve the paradox, as it affects both high-quality and low-quality teas equally. It doesn't explain why high-quality teas are not more expensive than low-quality teas.

d) Low-quality teas are generally easier to obtain than high-quality teas.

This answer choice would actually lead us to expect low-quality teas to be cheaper, as they are easier to obtain. It doesn't resolve the paradox of why high-quality teas are not more expensive than low-quality teas.

e) The price of tea generally does not vary from region to region.

This answer choice is out of scope, as it doesn't address the relationship between price and quality. It doesn't help resolve the paradox.

In conclusion, the correct answer is B, as it explains why low-quality teas might have higher prices, resolving the paradox presented in the passage.