How to Identify and Solve LSAT Paradox Questions

To identify paradox questions, look for question stems like:

• “Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy?”
• “Which one of the following best explains the surprising result?”
• “Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the situation described above?”

To solve paradox questions, first find the paradox by identifying the two parts of the stimulus that appear to contradict each other. Then, ask yourself: Why is this unexpected? What’s confusing or contradictory? 

Once you figure that out, think about what kind of information would resolve the tension between the two parts. Finally, eliminate any answer that worsens the paradox, is irrelevant, or supports only one side. The correct choice should explain how both facts can be true at the same time.

6 Sample LSAT Paradox Questions With Answer Explanations

Below are six real-style LSAT paradox questions, each followed by a concise explanation of the correct answer choice and why it resolves the contradiction.

Sample Question #1

“During the nineteenth century, the French academy of art was a major financial sponsor of painting and sculpture in France; sponsorship by private individuals had decreased dramatically by this time. Because the academy discouraged innovation in the arts, there was little innovation in nineteenth century French sculpture. Yet nineteenth century French painting showed a remarkable degree of innovation.”

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference between the amount of innovation in French painting and the amount of innovation in French sculpture during the nineteenth century?

(A) In France in the nineteenth century, the French academy gave more of its financial support to painting than it did to sculpture. 

(B) The French academy in the nineteenth century financially supported a greater number of sculptors than painters, but individual painters received more support, on average, than individual sculptors. 

(C) Because stone was so much more expensive than paint and canvas, far more unsponsored paintings were produced than were unsponsored sculptures in France during the nineteenth century. 

(D) Very few of the artists in France in the nineteenth century who produced sculptures also produced paintings. 

(E) Although the academy was the primary sponsor of sculpture and painting, the total amount of financial support that French sculptors and painters received from sponsors declined during the nineteenth century.

Answer:

A. This actually adds confusion. If the Academy was stifling, it doesn’t make sense that more academic support led to more innovation, especially in painting. That directly contradicts the idea that painters flourished under Academy support.

B. This has minimal impact. Even if the number of sculptors supported exceeded painters, and their funding was similar, that doesn’t explain the creative differences between the two groups. The support could still have been equally effective (or ineffective) for both. It doesn’t account for why painters were more innovative.

C. CORRECT. This explains the discrepancy well. If painters didn’t rely on the Academy and had other sources of support, they may have been freer to innovate. The phrase “far more” strengthens this answer because it ensures a meaningful difference in circumstances between painters and sculptors, directly accounting for the greater innovation among painters.

D. This just states that sculptors and painters were different people, which is trivial. The fact that the groups didn’t overlap doesn’t explain why one group was significantly more innovative than the other.

E. Incomplete reasoning. The idea that both groups may have faced “some” hardship or external factor doesn’t clarify why painters succeeded more than sculptors. It lacks a meaningful contrast between the two.

Sample Question #2

“After replacing his old gas water heater with a new, pilotless, gas water heater that is rated as highly efficient, Jimmy’s gas bills increased.”

Each of the following, if true, contributes to an explanation of the increase mentioned above except:

(A) The new water heater uses a smaller percentage of the gas used by Jimmy’s household than did the old one. 

(B) Shortly after the new water heater was installed, Jimmy’s uncle came to live with him, doubling the size of the household. 

(C) After having done his laundry at a laundromat, Jimmy bought and started using a gas dryer when he replaced his water heater. 

(D) Jimmy’s utility company raised the rates for gas consumption following installation of the new water heater. 

(E) Unusually cold weather following installation of the new water heater resulted in heavy gas usage.

Answer:

A. CORRECT. At first glance, this seems like an explanation, but it doesn’t fully resolve the paradox. If the water heater is now using a smaller percentage of gas, that could mean overall gas usage increased, or that it decreased, but the water heater’s usage dropped even more. Example:

• Before: 100 units of gas total, 50 units by the heater (50%).
• After: 60 units of gas total, 10 units by the heater (16%).
  In this case, gas usage and heater usage both dropped, yet the bill could still go up, which remains unexplained. A good paradox resolution must account for all possible scenarios, and this one doesn’t.

B. This doesn’t explain the paradox. If Jimmy’s uncle uses more hot water, that could explain increased gas usage, but the stimulus says the new heater is more efficient, so this would suggest lower usage, not higher. Plus, efficiency can still be outweighed by increased demand, but that doesn't resolve the billing issue alone.

C. This is a strong candidate. If Jimmy added another gas-powered appliance (like a gas dryer or stove), it could easily raise the overall gas usage, even if the new water heater is using less gas. This directly explains how total gas bills could rise despite improved efficiency in one area.

D. This cleverly shifts the focus: the stimulus says Jimmy paid more, not necessarily that he used more gas. If the price of gas went up, that would explain a higher bill even if usage stayed the same or dropped. This directly resolves the paradox and is a strong answer.

E. This also works well. Colder weather could lead to longer showers or increased hot water usage for other purposes, potentially overriding the gains from a more efficient heater. The increased demand would lead to higher gas use despite improved efficiency. A valid explanation.

Sample Question #3

“Jeneta: Increasingly, I’ve noticed that when a salesperson thanks a customer for making a purchase, the customer also says “Thank you” instead of saying “You’re welcome.” I’ve even started doing that myself. But when a friend thanks a friend for a favor, the response is always “You’re welcome.”

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the discrepancy that Jeneta observes in people’s responses?

(A) Customers regard themselves as doing salespeople a favor by buying from them as opposed to someone else. 

(B) Salespeople are often instructed by their employers to thank customers, whereas customers are free to say what they want. 

(C) Salespeople do not regard customers who buy from them as doing them a favor.

(D) The way that people respond to being thanked is generally determined by habit rather than by conscious decision. 

(E) In a commercial transaction, as opposed to a favor, the customer feels that the benefits are mutual.

Answer:

A. This actually makes the situation more confusing. If customers believed they were doing the salesperson a favor, they’d likely respond with “you’re welcome”, not “thank you.” So this contradicts the behavior we’re trying to explain.

B. This misses the point. Sure, customers can say whatever they want, but that doesn’t explain why so many of them specifically respond with “thank you.” It offers freedom, not insight.

C. This is about salespeople’s behavior, not the customers’. The question is why customers respond with thanks, not what the salesperson is doing after the interaction.

D. This points out a difference in response between friends and salespeople, but doesn’t explain why the difference exists. We need a reason for the customers' reaction, not just a description of it.

E. CORRECT. This explains the paradox perfectly. If customers feel they’re receiving a benefit, like helpful service, they’re naturally inclined to say “thank you.” In contrast, when a friend thanks them, they feel they gave the benefit, prompting a response like “you’re welcome.” This gets to the heart of the behavioral difference.

Sample Question #4

“A survey of a city’s concertgoers found that almost all of them were dissatisfied with the local concert hall. A large majority of them expressed a strong preference for wider seats and better acoustics. And, even though the survey respondents were told that the existing concert hall cannot feasibly be modified to provide these features, most of them opposed the idea of tearing down the existing structure and replacing it with a concert hall with wider seats and better acoustics.”

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the apparent conflict in the concertgoers’ views, as revealed by the survey?

(A) Before any of the survey questions were asked, the respondents were informed that the survey was sponsored by a group that advocates replacing the existing concert hall. (B) Most of the people who live in the vicinity of the existing concert hall do not want it to be torn down. 

(C) The city’s construction industry will receive more economic benefit from the construction of a new concert hall than from renovations to the existing concert hall. 

(D) A well-publicized plan is being considered by the city government that would convert the existing concert hall into a public auditorium and build a new concert hall nearby. 

(E) Many popular singers and musicians who currently do not hold concerts in the city would begin to hold concerts there if a new concert hall were built.

Answer:

A. This actually deepens the confusion. If the survey was biased in favor of replacing the concert hall, then the fact that people still didn’t vote for demolition becomes even harder to explain. This makes the paradox worse, not better.

B. This doesn’t help resolve the issue. It simply reiterates the known fact: people don’t want the concert hall torn down. But that’s exactly what’s puzzling, especially since they also believe the hall isn’t a good performance space.

C. This explains the construction industry’s interest in demolishing the hall, but that’s irrelevant. The paradox is about public opinion, why citizens agree the hall isn’t suitable, yet still oppose tearing it down.

D. CORRECT. This neatly resolves the paradox. People support getting a new concert hall, and they’re even open to replacing the existing one, but not by demolishing it. Maybe they value the existing structure for its architecture or potential reuse. This reconciles both sides of the contradiction.

E. This makes things worse by providing yet another reason to support demolition, which increases confusion, since people still don’t support it despite multiple arguments in favor.

Sample Question #5

“Hine’s emerald dragonflies are an endangered species that live in wetlands. The larvae of these dragonflies can survive only in the water, where they are subject to predation by several species including red devil crayfish. Surprisingly, the dragonfly populations are more likely to remain healthy in areas where red devil crayfish are present than in areas without red devil crayfish.”

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the surprising fact?

(A) Red devil crayfish dig chambers that remain filled with water even when the surrounding wetlands dry up. 

(B) Red devil crayfish present no threat to adult Hine’s emerald dragonflies. 

(C) The varied diet of the red devil crayfish does not include any animal species that prey on dragonfly larvae. 

(D) Red devil crayfish are found in many more locations than Hine’s emerald dragonflies are. 

(E) Populations of red devil crayfish in a wetland do not drop significantly if the local population of Hine’s emerald dragonflies dies out.

Answer:

A. CORRECT. This directly supports the idea that crayfish benefit dragonfly populations. Since emerald dragonfly larvae need water to survive, and crayfish digging helps retain water, this suggests crayfish contribute to dragonfly survival during droughts. It clearly connects crayfish activity to dragonfly well-being.

B. This doesn't demonstrate that crayfish are helping dragonflies, only that they could be harming them more than they are. Less harm is not the same as a benefit, so this doesn’t resolve the issue.

C. This actually makes the situation more confusing. If crayfish don’t dig in certain conditions, that eliminates a possible way they might help dragonflies survive, by retaining water in their environment.

D. This is an irrelevant fact. Knowing that crayfish are more widespread than dragonflies doesn’t explain whether or how they help dragonflies. It’s background information, not a resolution to the puzzle.

E. Again, this is just a random fact about crayfish behavior. It doesn’t provide any connection to how they might be helping dragonflies or explain their positive impact during drought conditions.

Sample Question #6

“Advertising tends to have a greater influence on consumer preferences regarding brands of yogurt than it does on consumer preferences regarding brands of milk. Yet, since the LargeCo supermarket chain began advertising its store-brand products, sales of its store- brand milk increased more than sales of its store-brand yogurt.”

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy described above?

(A) There has recently been increased demand at LargeCo stores for the chain’s own brand of yogurt as well as for other brands of yogurt. 

(B) The typical shopper going to LargeCo for the purpose of buying milk does not go with the intention of also buying yogurt. 

(C) Shoppers at LargeCo tend to purchase the chain’s own brand of dairy products more frequently than other brands of dairy products. 

(D) Supermarkets throughout the entire nation have experienced a sharp decrease in sales of yogurt recently. 

(E) Consumers tend to purchase store brands of yogurt, but purchase whichever brand of milk is least expensive.

Answer:

A. This doesn’t help. The question is about the difference in sales trends between milk and yogurt, but this answer says nothing about milk. To resolve the paradox, we need something that distinguishes the two.

B. Irrelevant. Whether people buy milk and yogurt together or separately doesn’t explain the change in their individual sales. We need to understand the reasons why people buy each product and how those reasons relate to the ad campaign.

C. This doesn’t clarify anything. Saying that both milk and yogurt are dairy products doesn’t help distinguish why one saw a sales increase and the other didn’t. We’re looking for a meaningful difference.

D. CORRECT. This explains the paradox. If nationwide yogurt sales were declining, then even though the ad campaign helped locally, that broader trend may have neutralized the effect. So it’s possible the campaign did help yogurt, just not enough to overcome the national drop, unlike with milk.

E. This makes the situation more confusing. If people buy milk primarily based on price, and we’re not told milk prices have changed, then the ad campaign shouldn’t have affected milk sales at all. But it did, so this answer raises more questions than it answers.

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