Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT111 S3 Q3 Explanation

Opponents of peat harvesting in

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

TopicsStrengthen

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Stimulus

Opponents of peat harvesting in this country argue that it would alter the ecological balance of our peat-rich wetlands and that, as a direct consequence of this, much of the country’s water supply would be threatened with contamination. But this cannot be true, for in Ireland, where peat has contaminated. We can safely proceed with the harvesting of peat.

What this question is testing

Strengthen

Your task

Find the choice that makes the argument's conclusion more likely to be true.

Common trap

Answers that are consistent with the argument but add no real support, or that strengthen a claim the argument doesn't make.

Winning move

Locate the gap between evidence and conclusion, then pick the choice that closes it.

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The question
3.

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens

Answer choices

  1. No Impact2% picked this

    Over hundreds of years, the ecological balance of all areas changes slowly but significantly, sometimes to the advantage

    This is so broad and so vague, it doesn't add any new information to our peat-harvesting question. This answer seems to be going out of it's way to say nothing, like,"throughout history, things happen and things change, sometimes to the benefit or detriment of certain people".

  2. Correct90% picked this

    The original ecology of the peat-harvesting areas of Ireland was virtually identical to that of the undisturbed

    Why this is right

    This is strengthening the move from Premise to Intermediate Conclusion, since that moved relied on believing that, "If peat-harvesting didn't lead to water contamination in Ireland, then it won't lead to water contamination in this country". This answer makes the two ecological environments seem more fair to compare. We love seeing stronger language on Strengthen / Weaken / Paradox, so virtually identical is lovely.

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

  3. No Impact1% picked this

    The activities of other industries in coming years are likely to have adverse effects on the water

    This answer has nothing to do with peat-harvesting, so it's irrelevant to our inquiry.

  4. No Impact3% picked this

    The peat resources of this country are far larger than those of some countries that

    This is about peat-harvesting, but not about safety or environmental harm. The fact that this country has more peat to harvest than do some other countries certainly helps establish why we would be interested in considering peat harvesting. But it doesn't tell us anything that affects our impression of whether peat harvesting would be safe / would contaminate the water supply.

  5. No Impact3% picked this

    The peat-harvesting industry of Ireland has been able to supply most of that country’s

    Just like (D), this answer certainly helps establish a reason why this country would be interested in considering peat harvesting. But it doesn't tell us anything that affects our impression of whether peat harvesting would be safe / would contaminate the water supply.

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