Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT137 S4 Q23 Explanation

Biologists found that off

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

TopicsParadox

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Stimulus

Biologists found that off the northeast coast of a certain country the P-plankton population has recently dropped 10 percent. Additionally, fish species X, Y, and Z are beginning to show extraordinarily high death rates in the region. Since these species of fish are known to sometimes eat P-plankton, biologists believe the two unknown. No other species in the ecosystem appear to be affected.

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
23.

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

Answer choices

  1. Too Weak0% picked this

    Several major pharmaceutical companies in the region have been secretly dumping large amounts of waste into the

    Since this has been occurring for many years, why hasn’t this affected the P-plankton or fish species previously.

  2. Correct70% picked this

    A new strain of bacteria is attacking P-plankton by destroying their cell walls and is attacking the respiratory systems of fish

    Why this is right

    This shows a connection between the drop in P-plankton and the death of the species X, Y, and Z.

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

  3. Half Scope3% picked this

    A powerful toxin in the water is killing off P-plankton by inhibiting their production of a chemical

    This explains the drop in P-plankton, but does not help explain the death of fish species X, Y, and Z.

  4. Half Scope25% picked this

    Fish species X, Y, and Z are all experiencing widespread starvation within the affected region, and the loss of P-plankton is driving

    This might explain the death of fish species X, Y, and Z, but it does not explain the loss of P-plankton.

  5. Too Weak1% picked this

    Global warming has changed the climatic conditions of the ocean all along the northeast coast

    This does not establish that the drop in P-plankton or the death of the fish species is related to the change in climatic conditions of the ocean all along the northeast coast of the country.

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