Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 1 · Question 25

Incorrect. While this answer might explain why sales weren't as high as they could have been, it doesn't explain why the change in which print publications they advertised in decreased sales.

Incorrect. This would have happened after the switch was made (since the increase happened "recently") so it wouldn't have affected the pre—switch numbers and thus can't explain the decline.

Incorrect. Again, this might explain why cologne sales aren't through the roof, but it doesn't explain why the sales declined since this would be true both before and after the magazine switch.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
A company that makes men's cologne stopped advertising in a general magazine and put those ads in men's magazines. Sales dropped.

Answer Anticipation:
Let's start with defining the paradox here. Why is it weird that the cologne sales dropped? Because they stopped advertising generally and started advertising in a publication primarily read by men—the target market of men's cologne. You would expect that advertising a product to the users would increase sales.

But that's not quite right, as it's not necessarily the people who use the product that buy the product. You wouldn't advertise diapers directly to babies, after all!

Applied to this question, it's possible that it's not primarily men who buy men's cologne—it might be others buying the cologne for them.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights that the people who buy a product often aren't the people who use the product. If women make up a significant portion of the customer base for men's cologne, then switching ads to a magazine that doesn't have a large female readership would understandably lead to a decline in sales.

Key Takeaway:
Paradox questions are a bit "looser" than other questions on the LSAT in that many will rely on some common sense or outside information. Here we needed to use some common sense to figure out the paradox. For this question type and only this question type don't be afraid to think a little outside of the logic box!

Incorrect. An ad in a sports magazine doesn't necessarily feature a well—known athlete, nor does an ad with a well—known athlete in a sports magazine explain why sales went down.