Reading Comprehension

PT124 · S4 · P4 · Q24 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.

24.

It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about the use of predators to control pest populations?

  1. If the use of predators

    Opposite

    Parathion controls the predator population, not the cyclamen mites, so this advice would be silly.

    2% picked this

  2. Until the effects of the

    Out of Scope

    Out of Scope: "used with caution" Out of Scope: "beneficial insects" This would backpedal from the main point. Our author presents Typhlo as a case in point where there is no more effective means of controlling the cyclamen mite. We never hear the author raise any concern about whether Typhlo might damage "beneficial insects".

    4% picked this

  3. Correct

    Insecticides should be used to

    Why this is right

    We might not be in love with the "only if" formulation of this rule, but the contrapositive sounds a lot like the author's general sentiment: if the use of natural predators has proven adequate to control a certain pest population, then insecticides should not be used. The first sentence of the 4th paragraph would be our most direct support.

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

    60% picked this

  4. If an insecticide can effectively

    Opposite

    It doesn't seem like our author is saying, "Ideally, pesticides .... but as a last resort, predator populations".

    5% picked this

  5. Predators generally control pest populations

    Out of Scope: "harm the crops"

    We aren't sure whether Typhlo or pesticides harm the crops, so we can't make this comparison.

    30% 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