LSAT Explanation PT 39, S4, Q24: A park's user fees are employed

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following conforms most closely to the principle illustrated by the statements above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle (Misc) question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

In the passage, we are presented with a situation where a park raises user fees, which leads to a decrease in the number of visitors and revenues for maintenance. However, the park's maintenance still improves due to less wear and tear from fewer visitors. The principle at play here can be understood as: even if one factor (user fee) becomes less influential, another factor (number of users) can still cause the desired effect (improved maintenance). The question type is a Principle (Misc) question, and we are asked to find the answer choice that conforms most closely to this principle.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) In this option, the car company's goal is to increase its market share, which it achieves by improving the service warranty. However, this leads to a decrease in profits due to the expensive warranties. While the company does meet its goal of increasing market share, the unexpected effect (decreased profits) is not directly contributing to the achievement of that goal. The goal is achieved through the original method (improving the warranty), not through the unexpected effect. Thus, this answer choice does not closely conform to the principle in the passage.

b) A grocery store's revenues increase even though it no longer remains open 24 hours daily. The manager theorizes that customers find the store more pleasant because it can be cleaned well during the hours it is closed. This answer choice presents a speculative cause (cleanliness) for the increase in revenues, but it does not show a clear relationship between an unexpected effect and the achievement of a goal. It is not certain that the cleanliness is the sole reason for the increase in revenues, making this choice different from the principle in the passage.

c) In this scenario, road taxes are raised to encourage more people to use mass transit. However, the fee paid by each commuter does not equal the cost of providing transit for that commuter, so the mass transit service will deteriorate even as it takes in more money. This answer choice presents a negative side effect (mass transit deterioration) of the original goal (increasing mass transit use), rather than an unexpected effect that still leads to the achievement of the goal. This does not conform to the principle in the passage.

d) By spending more on zoo maintenance, a city increases the number of zoo patrons. The extra revenue generated by the sale of memorabilia more than makes up for the extra costs of maintenance. This answer choice does not present an unexpected effect that contributes to the achievement of a goal. Instead, it shows a positive side effect (extra revenue from memorabilia sales) of the original method (increasing zoo maintenance). This does not align with the principle in the passage.

e) Library fees have been increased to raise money for book repair. Since the library now has fewer patrons, the books are in better repair even though the number of library patrons has decreased to such an extent that the money available for book repair has decreased. This answer choice closely follows the principle in the passage: even though one factor (library fees) becomes less influential, another factor (number of patrons) still causes the desired effect (better book repair). The decrease in patrons and money for book repair is an unexpected effect, but it still leads to the achievement of the goal (better book repair) due to less wear and tear on the books. Therefore, the correct answer is E.