Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT144 S2 Q1 Explanation

In the bodies of reptiles, some

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

TopicsFlaw

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Stimulus

In the bodies of reptiles, some industrial by-products cause elevated hormonal activity. Hormones govern the development of certain body parts, and in reptiles abnormal development of these parts occurs only with elevated hormonal activity. Recently, several alligators with the telltale developmental apparently, industrial by-products have entered the swamp's ecosystem.

What this question is testing

Flaw

Your task

Describe the reasoning error the argument actually commits.

Common trap

Answers that name a real logical flaw the argument doesn't actually make.

Winning move

Articulate the gap in the reasoning yourself, then match it to the choice that describes that 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
1.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds

Answer choices

  1. Trap2% picked this

    provides no explanation for developmental abnormalities that do not result from

  2. Correct93% picked this

    fails to consider whether elevated hormonal activity can result from factors other than the presence

    Why this is right

    Answer B is correct.

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

  3. Trap2% picked this

    fails to address the possibility that industrial by-products were contained in food

  4. Trap2% picked this

    fails to say whether reptiles other than alligators were examined for the same developmental abnormalities that were

  5. Trap2% picked this

    uses evidence drawn from a sample of alligators that is unlikely to be representative of

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