Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT116 S2 Q25 Explanation

Burying beetles do whatever they

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Burying beetles do whatever they can to minimize the size of their competitors’ broods without adversely affecting their own. This is why they routinely destroy each other’s eggs when two or more beetles inhabit the same breeding location. Yet, after the eggs hatch, sharing in the care of the entire population.

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
25.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain burying beetles’

Answer choices

  1. Trap2% picked this

    Burying beetles whose eggs hatch before their competitors’ are more likely to have large broods than are burying

  2. Trap7% picked this

    The cooperation among adult burying beetles ensures that the greatest possible number

  3. Correct78% picked this

    Burying beetles are unable to discriminate between their own larvae and the larvae of

    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. Trap4% picked this

    Many of the natural enemies of burying beetles can be repelled only if burying beetles cooperate in

  5. Trap9% picked this

    Most breeding sites for burying beetles can accommodate only a limited

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