Logical Reasoning

PT113 · S2 · Q23 Roxanne: To protect declining elephant

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

Roxanne: To protect declining elephant herds from poachers seeking to obtain ivory, people concerned about such endangered species should buy no new ivory.

Roxanne's Claims

1. People concerned about protecting endangered elephants from poachers should buy no new ivory.

2. The new and old ivory markets are entirely independent, so purchasing antique ivory is fine (doesn't provide poachers with incentive to obtain more new ivory)

3. If the ivory you're buying isn't at least 75 years old, you can't buy it in good conscience.

Salvador's Response (if any)

1. I disagree. People concerned about protecting endangered elephants from poachers should buy no ivory at all.

2. I disagree. They're not entirely independent. If the supply of antique ivory were able to adequately meet the demand for ivory, then the demand for new ivory would go down. There are people who are hoping to buy antique ivory but willing to buy new ivory if they can't find antique ivory.

3. No comment.

Goal

Let's look for an answer talking about whether or not people worried about endangered elephants are cool as along as they're buying antique ivory, or whether they should buy no ivory at all.

Or, look for an answer talking about whether the new and old ivory markets are entirely independent.

23.

A point on which Roxanne's and Salvador's views differ is whether

there are substances that can
Unsupported for Both
We couldn't derive that either person agrees or disagrees with this claim, since neither person really talked about suitable substitutes.
1% picked this
Correct
decreased demand for antique ivory
Why this is right
This deals with claim 2, whether the antique and new ivory markets are entirely independent. Roxanne would disagree with this answer, since she said the new ivory and old ivory markets are entirely independent. Salvador would agree with this answer, since he is saying that if people who are worried about elephants cease buying ivory altogether, then people who are inclined to buy antique but not resolved to do so will be more likely to buy antique / less likely to buy new ivory. He thinks that if we elephant-lovers refrained from buying any ivory at all (including antique ivory), that demand for new ivory will drop.
Skill tested: Agree/Disagree · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
61% picked this
people should take steps to
Disagree Position Unsupported
It seems likely that both of these people would agree to this answer. They disagree about which steps should be taken, but they both seem to think concerned people should take steps. We can't derive from either paragraph the Disagree position: "People shouldn't take any steps to avert a threat to the existence of elephants"
1% picked this
a widespread refusal to buy
Disagree Position Unsupported
It seems likely that both of these people would agree to this answer. They're both suggesting behavior that they think will lessen the demand for new ivory, and thus will lessen the incentives for poachers to kill elephants. We can't derive from either paragraph the Disagree position: "A widespread refusal to buy new ivory will not have any substantial effect on the survival of elephants."
15% picked this
people concerned about endangered species
Trap
Out of Scope 2nd Speaker: 75 years old Salvador never addresses Roxanne's 3rd claim about the 75 year conscience cut-off, so we can't derive any sense of how he feels about this. More than likely, both speakers would agree that if you're worried about elephants, you shouldn't be buying recent ivory.
22% 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