Reading Comprehension

PT124 · S4 · P4 · Q23 Cyclamen Mites

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Reading Comprehension 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

Sometimes there is no more effective means of controlling an agricultural pest than giving free rein to its natural predators.

Central Topic

Controlling unwanted crop pests with natural predators vs. pesticides

Framework

Theme / Example

Main Point

Sometimes you'd get better results managing a crop pest population with a natural predator than with a pesticide, as is the case with cyclamen mites and their predator, Typhlodromus.

Passage Map

(P1) General idea. Introduction to specific example -- Sometimes letting natural predator control a crop pest is the best way. A case in point is cyclamen/tyhplo. (P2) Reasons typhlo is an effective way to control cyclamen (P3) Experimental support for effectiveness of typhlo (P4) Practical, in the field, support for effectiveness of typhlo

Other Commentary

On physical science passages that have visually challenging terms (like cyclamen, typhlodromus, parathion), it is very helpful for understanding and retention to re-brand those in much simpler terms.

As we pause to self-summarize, we want to be saying things like,

The second sentence of the passage reveals the purpose / main point of the passage, with the rhetorical phrase a case in point.

Just like when we see "for example", when we see "a case in point" we are becoming aware that the author cares enough about the previous idea to try to support it and flesh it out.

When you find a framing idea that the author wants to support, you should pause and re-read that framing idea until you've self-summarized it in easy language that you can understand and remember.

23.

Suppose that pesticide X drastically slows the reproductive rate of cyclamen mites and has no other direct effect on cyclamen mites or Typhlodromus. Based on the information in the passage, which one of the following would most likely have occurred if, in the experiments mentioned in the passage, pesticide X had been used instead of parathion, with all other conditions affecting the experiments remaining the same?

  1. Correct

    In both treated and untreated

    Why this is right

    In both plots, Typhlodromus would be able to do its thang, since parathion is no longer present to kill it. What is Typhlo's thang? Controlling the population of cyclamen mites. In the treated plants, Typhlo would have much less work cut out for it, though, since pesticide X by itself would control the cyclamens by drastically reducing the reproductive growth of the cyclamens.

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

    47% picked this

  2. Cyclamen mite populations in all

    Unsupported Comparison: substantially lower

    We have no reason to think that cyclamens would be substantially lower in treated vs. untreated plots, since untreated plots would have Unsupported Comparison controlling the cyclamens and the treated plots would have Pesticide X controlling the cyclamens. They might not be identically effective, but there's no reason to think they're substantially different.

    5% picked this

  3. In the treated plots, slowed

    Contradicted:

    The middle/end of 2nd paragraph tells us that the reproductory rate of Typhlodromus would also slow down since it is responsive to reductions in cyclamen populations.

    26% picked this

  4. In the treated plots, Typhlodromus

    Bad Match: 2nd Half

    We do think that the <i>Typhlodromus</i> population would decrease in response to the massive slowing of cyclamens reproduction, but we have no reason to think that the <i>Typhlodromus</i> population would eventually come back, because it only returns if cyclamen returns.

    10% picked this

  5. In the treated plots, cyclamen

    Trap

    Unsupported Comparison "slower to damage / longer at damaging levels" From the first paragraph we know that Unsupported Comparison "rapidly subdue the cyclamen populations, keeping them from reaching significant damage", and from the question stem we know that Pesticide X drastically slows down the cyclamens population growth. That's it. We can't rank the relative speed at with cyclamens would reach damaging levels, since both descriptions sound similar and sound as though cyclamens might not ever reach damaging levels. We're even less equipped to judge how long cyclamen populations would remain at damaging levels.

    12% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

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

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