LSAT Explanation PT 41, S1, Q9: Technological improvements will enable food production

LSAT Question Stem

The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the passage and summarize any unclear or confusing parts. The passage argues that technological improvements will help increase food production as populations grow. However, to see a significant increase in food production, societies need to become more centralized to better coordinate all factors contributing to food production. The passage then explains that historically, centralized societies had a higher percentage of their population perish when the society collapsed. Therefore, increasing the centralization of societies to increase food production through technology will only worsen the disasters associated with societal collapse.

Now, let's look at the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a "Most Strongly Supported" (MSS) question, which means we're looking for the answer choice that is most strongly supported by the information in the passage.

Let's go through each answer choice:

a) The more centralized a society is, the greater its need for increased food production.

This answer choice isn't supported by the passage. The passage states that increased food production requires more centralized societies, but it doesn't say that more centralized societies need more food production.

b) Not every problem associated with the collapse of a centralized society would be prevented by technological improvements.

This answer choice is correct because the passage states that increasing the centralization of societies to increase food production through technology will only worsen the disasters associated with societal collapse. This implies that technological improvements cannot prevent every problem associated with the collapse of a centralized society.

c) The rate at which the world's population is growing will continue to increase indefinitely.

This answer choice is not supported by the passage. The passage discusses the relationship between population growth, food production, and centralization, but it doesn't make any claims about the rate of population growth continuing indefinitely.

d) The production of food can be increased only by improved technology.

This answer choice is not supported by the passage. The passage states that technological improvements will enable food production to increase as populations increase, but it doesn't claim that improved technology is the only way to increase food production.

e) Societies have become more centralized as technology has improved.

This answer choice is not supported by the passage. The passage discusses the need for societies to become more centralized to increase food production, but it doesn't say that societies have actually become more centralized as technology has improved.

In conclusion, the correct answer is B because it is the statement most strongly supported by the information in the passage.