Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT106 S1 Q8 Explanation

Generally speaking, if the same

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Generally speaking, if the same crop is sown in a field for several successive years, growth in the later years is poorer than growth in the earlier years, since nitrogen in the soil becomes depleted. Even though alfalfa is a nitrogen-fixing plant and thus increases the amount of nitrogen in the soil, well in the later years than it does in the earlier years.

What this question is testing

Paradox

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
8.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the similarity described above between alfalfa

Answer choices

  1. Trap4% picked this

    Some kinds of plants grow more rapidly and are more productive when they are grown among other kinds of plants rather than being grown

  2. Trap4% picked this

    Alfalfa increases the amount of nitrogen in the soil by taking nitrogen from the air and releasing it in a form that is

  3. Correct80% picked this

    Certain types of plants, including alfalfa, produce substances that accumulate in the soil and that are toxic to the

    Why this is right

    Answer C is correct.

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

  4. Trap11% picked this

    Alfalfa increases nitrogen in the soil in which it grows only if a certain type of soil bacteria

  5. Trap0% picked this

    Alfalfa is very sensitive to juglone, a compound that is exuded from the leaves of

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