Q24

[bbirdwell]

Answer choice B was very attractive, but D was the correct answer. Could you please explain why B is NOT the answer (or: what is wrong with it)?

Another inference question! We'll have to read carefully and eliminate answer choices that we cannot prove.

What "basic assumption of theoretical economics" is (B) referring to?

[rishisb]

What "basic assumption of theoretical economics" is (B) referring to?

Thank you for your help!

Just to follow-up, cannot we say that the assumption that is being refered to in answer choice B is the assumption that is mentioned in the second paragraph of the passage, viz.: People act out-of rational self-interest; thus, people will accept any amount of money?

This seems very true . . .

[bbirdwell]

That's totally the assumption being referred to.

Now, two questions must be asked. Is this a "basic" assumption of "theoretical economics?"

And, more importantly, is it actually "overturned" by the game?

What do you think?

[rishisb]

Now, two questions must be asked. Is this a "basic" assumption of "theoretical economics?"

And, more importantly, is it actually "overturned" by the game?

Hello, again:

Honestly, I am unsure as to how to answer your second question. Here's why: It's clear that the results of the game are inconsistent with -- indeed: are opposite of-- the assumption of theoretical econ. And that assumption, again, says that people will act of self-interest and accept any amount of money. But the people in the Game did NOT do that; they rejected low offers of cash. . .

1st Question: What does the result of the Game do, if it does not "overturn" the assumption?

2nd Question: What would the passage have had to said about the Game in order that it "overturn" the assumption?

[bbirdwell]

ha! Ok, now we're getting somewhere.

That sentence at the end of the 2nd paragraph asks a question: "IF this is assumed, why the results?"

And the final 2 paragraphs are explanations of why the results DO fit the assumption!

So, two points to consider about this choice, I think.

1. This isn't necessarily a "basic" assumption of theoretical econ. While this distinction doesn't make the choice wrong, necessarily, it's one sign that the choice may not be entirely on point.

2. The results do not overturn the assumption. The results are introduced as "puzzling" in respect to the assumption, but that's just the setup for the real point of the passage -- the author's two explanations for why the results match the assumption: group support and emotions = self-interest.

See it now?

[rishisb]

Good day, Brian:

I am sorry for the delayed post. I want to thank you for your help in answering my two reading comp questions. I really appreciate it!

You answered things very well.

I want to become an LSAT ninja, too!

[jserulneck]

So where did it say "anonymous" in the passage per the passage. I saw "strangers," and the labeling as "proposer" and "responder," so what makes the identity anonymous exactly...

Thx

[bbirdwell]

"strangers" and "anonymous" are reasonably synonymous. The point is just that participants don't know each other.

[irenewerwerwer]

Then why is E flawed? I guess the problem lies in "proof"--compared to "explanation" in the stimulus, but I still cannot pinpoint what's wrong in E.

[maryadkins]

Then why is E flawed? I guess the problem lies in "proof"--compared to "explanation" in the stimulus, but I still cannot pinpoint what's wrong in E.

Exactly. That's enough to get rid of an answer choice. "Proof" presents a degree issue not supported by the passage.

[nthakka]

(B) is a brutal trap. "Overturning" is too strong and unsupported.

[renata.gomez]

HI! can someone please point me to the part of the passage that supports answer D?

Thank you!

[obobob]

Is (C) wrong because we don’t know if Ultimatum Game ALWAYS elicits unpredictable results?

[smiller]

Is (C) wrong because we don’t know if Ultimatum Game ALWAYS elicits unpredictable results?

Based on the passage, it's not accurate to describe the results as unpredictable. The passage describes one "puzzling" result, meaning a result that is not easy to explain or not what one would normally expect. But that doesn't mean that this result is unpredictable.

Lines 11-19 indicate that the results of the game are predictable: many proposers will offer a 50/50 split, two-thirds offer 40-50%, only one in four offers less than 20%, and most of the low offers are rejected. If the game has been played "numerous" times, and these are normally the results, it's fair to say that the results are predictable even if we don't fully understand why the low offers get rejected.

[smiller]

HI! can someone please point me to the part of the passage that supports answer D?

Thank you!

The first line tells us that the participants in the game are strangers. Lines 21-27 describe rejecting the low offer as "puzzling" behavior. Lines 38-42 describe how our emotions are better adapted to communal situations than they are to one-time, anonymous interactions, and the rest of the final paragraph uses this as the basis for explaining the puzzling aspect of the Ultimatum Game. We're applying our communally-tuned emotions to the type of situation that they are not well-adapted to handle.