Logical Reasoning

PT103 · S3 · Q3 Even though trading in ivory has

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Even though trading in ivory has been outlawed by international agreement, some piano makers still use ivory, often obtained illegally, to cover piano keys.

Conclusion (therefore)

The development of synthetic ivory will probably do little to help curb the killing of elephants for their tusks.

Evidence

Experts have devised a synthetic ivory that has found favor with concert pianists worldwide, but piano makers have never been major consumers of ivory.

Evaluate

This is an Anti-Causal argument. The author thinks that the new synthetic ivory will do little to reduce elephants' being hunted for their tusks.

It will reduce demand for ivory from pianists, but the author is saying that's a negligible slice of the ivory market.

GIVEN THAT piano makers are just a tiny slice of the ivory market HOW COULD WE ARGUE THAT synthetic ivory *will* make a big difference in terms of elephants' being hunted for their tusks?

It seems very possible that other segments of the ivory market could ALSO find that synthetic ivory is a suitable substitute. Maybe a huge source of ivory demand is for bathroom tile, and tile manufacturers are totally down with using synthetic ivory instead.

Goal

Let's look for an answer that rules out an objection like or that otherwise makes it more likely that even though synthetic ivory is available, most ivory-users will continue to want the real ivory that we get from elephant tusks.

3.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to strengthen the argument?

  1. Most people who play the

    Irrelevant Comparison

    We don't care that people can tell the difference between this new synthetic ivory and other crappier version of fake ivory. We need to be convinced that ivory users aren't cool with this new synthetic ivory.

    5% picked this

  2. The new synthetic ivory can

    Opposite Impact

    This makes the new synthetic ivory sound awesome, which goes against the author's conclusion. She is arguing it won't reduce demand for real ivory, but this sounds like it does a great job of being an alternative option.

    8% picked this

  3. Other natural products such as

    No Impact

    We don't care what previous options failed to be a substitute for piano keys. We already know that synthetic ivory is an acceptable substitute for piano keys. We need to know whether it would be an acceptable substitute for other ivory uses, so we can assess whether it will significantly cut down on ivory demand.

    5% picked this

  4. Correct

    The most common use for

    Why this is right

    Since the biggest demand for ivory is a type of product that cares about using authentic materials, this product would not accept synthetic ivory as a substitute. Thus synthetic ivory will not reduce demand among the biggest segment of the ivory market. This helps the author argue that synthetic ivory won't significantly impact the overall demand for ivory.

    Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    78% picked this

  5. It costs significantly less to

    Opposite (if anything)

    Like (C), we don't care about previous attempts at ivory substitutes. We know synthetic ivory works for pianos. This is telling us it's also cheap to produce, which makes it sound like it could be cheaper to buy, which would make it more appealing to people. So if anything this would undermine the author's notion that ivory buyers overall aren't going to want to switch to this new synthetic ivory.

    3% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free