The validity of the "better test" (line 65) as proposed by the author might be undermined by the fact that
MazenNovember 11 at 04:35PM
Isn't B is a better answer than A?
Hi,
I did read Ravi's explanation of why B is incorrect; but I am still seeing B a better answer than A, and here is why.
The relevant section to the "better test" states that "A better test is the comparison of each of these economic indicators--[referencing the steady rise in median black family income; the stability of the economic position of black vis-a-vis white Americans; and the unemployment data]--with the frequency of movement-initiated events reported in the press; unsurprisingly, none correlates significantly with the pace of reports about movement activity."
Well, if some of the economic indicators do not receive the same amount of press coverage--as B states--then we would underestimate or altogether ignore said economic indicators that are meant to be "compared with the frequency of movement-initiated events."
Okay, what does A state? A states "The press is selective about the movement activities it chooses to cover." Be that as it may, the economic indicators, which ought to be compared are not assumed to be compromised because the answer-choice A does not say they are. Therefore, the comparison of the economic indicators with the frequency of the events would still be total in spite of the selectiveness.
B is a better answer than A. A is the correct answer only if B as it is stated is absent of the choices.
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I think you are misreading this test. To start, the LSAT tests our ability to compare facts to arguments, because that is what a lawyer does. The facts are given, then lawyers make arguments based on the facts. So the distinction between "fact" and "argument" or "fact" and "what people say about the facts" is paramount. This is especially true in reading comprehension passages, where we have to make the distinction between what the facts are, and what people in the passage (including the author) say about those facts.
In this passage, the "better test" is based on comparing "economic indicators" to the "frequency of movement-initiated events reported in the press." Do you see how one of these is a fact about the world (economic indicators) and one is someone's comments about the world (the press reports about events)? We have to be able to notice this distinction between facts and what people say about facts.
So, that already gives us the answer. The "better test" is only useful if the press is covering every single fact in the world, and thus press reports and facts are perfectly aligned. That matches (A). Thus, incorrect answer choice (B) is irrelevant. Press reports about economic indicators are not even in the test at all. Press reports about movements are. The test does not care about what people say about economic indicators, only about what people say about movements.
Hope that helps and happy studying,
Nate, LSATMax Instructor