Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT132 S4 Q7 Explanation

Researcher: Over the course

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Researcher: Over the course of three decades, we kept records of the average beak size of two populations of the same species of bird, one wild population, the other captive. During this period, the average beak size of the captive beak size of the wild birds decreased significantly.

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
7.

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

Answer choices

  1. Trap5% picked this

    The small-beaked wild birds were easier to capture and measure than the

  2. Trap1% picked this

    The large-beaked wild birds were easier to capture and measure than the

  3. Correct90% picked this

    Changes in the wild birds' food supply during the study period favored the survival of small-beaked

    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. Trap2% picked this

    The average body size of the captive birds remained the same over

  5. Trap2% picked this

    The researcher measured the beaks of some of the wild birds on more

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