LSAT Explanation PT 41, S1, Q16: With decreased production this year in

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, would most call into question the analysts' explanation of the price increase? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The argument states that with decreased production this year in many rice-growing countries, prices of the grain on world markets have increased. The analysts explain this price increase by pointing out that only a small percentage of world production is sold commercially, with government growers controlling most of the rest, distributing it for local consumption. With so little rice being traded freely, even slight changes in production can significantly affect the amount of rice available on world markets. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise: Decreased production in rice-growing countries this year.

Premise: Only a small percentage of world production is sold commercially, with government growers controlling most of the rest.

Conclusion: The price increase is due to the small percentage of rice being traded freely, making slight changes in production significantly affect the amount of rice available on world markets.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be, "Do governments change the percentage of rice they control and distribute for local consumption in times of decreased rice production?"

Now, let's discuss the answer choices for the Weaken question type. We are looking for an answer choice that calls into question the analysts' explanation of the price increase.

a) Rice-importing countries reduce purchases of rice when the price increases dramatically.

- This answer choice does not directly address the relationship between the premises and the conclusion. It focuses on the reaction of rice-importing countries to price increases rather than the cause of the price increase itself.

b) In times of decreased rice production, governments store more of the rice they control and reduce their local distribution of rice.

- This answer choice actually strengthens the argument by suggesting that governments further limit the supply of rice in times of decreased production, which would contribute to the price increase.

c) In times of decreased rice production, governments export some of the rice originally intended for local distribution to countries with free grain markets.

- This is the correct answer. It weakens the argument by suggesting that governments might increase the supply of rice in the free market during times of decreased production, which could offset the price increase.

d) Governments that distribute the rice crop for local consumption purchase the grain commercially in the event of production shortfalls.

- This answer choice strengthens the argument by suggesting that governments would buy more rice from the commercial market in times of decreased production, which would further reduce the supply of rice available on world markets and contribute to the price increase.

e) During reduced rice harvests, rice-importing countries import other kinds of crops, although this fails to compensate for decreased rice imports.

- This answer choice does not directly address the cause of the price increase and focuses on the actions of rice-importing countries rather than the supply of rice in the free market.

In conclusion, the correct answer is C, as it weakens the analysts' explanation by suggesting that governments might increase the supply of rice in the free market during times of decreased production, which could offset the price increase.