Logical Reasoning

PT148 · S1 · Q8 For a species of large abalone

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning 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

Start practicing free

For a species of large abalone shellfish to develop from a species of smaller ones, they must spend less energy on finding food and avoiding predators, and more on competition in mating.

Given that ....

In order for a large abalone to develop from a smaller species, the larger one must spend less energy on finding food and avoiding predators, and more on competition for mates.

How can it be that ...

The fossil record shows that a species of large abalone developed from a smaller one only after otters began to dominate the local waters (preying on abalone).

Goal

To explain the larger one developing, we need to hear about how - it spends less energy finding food - it spends less energy avoiding predators - it spends more energy competing for mates

The correct answer will have to connect one or more of those to the ascendancy of the otters.

Like,

8.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above?

  1. Otters and abalones also compete

    Unrelated to Goal

    This isn't connecting the arrival of the otters to a change in the abalone species in regards to ... - less energy on finding food - less energy avoiding predators - more energy competing for mates

    2% picked this

  2. The fossils that were studied

    Unrelated to Goal

    This isn't connecting the arrival of the otters to a change in the abalone species in regards to ... - less energy on finding food - less energy avoiding predators - more energy competing for mates We don't care whether this large abalone species we're trying to explain is one of only two large abalone species or one of a thousand.

    2% picked this

  3. Correct

    Otters also prey on the

    Why this is right

    This certainly doesn't fully explain how larger abalones developed, but it helps to resolve the confusion. It connects the ascendancy of the otters to one of the three changes that go along with the development of larger abalone: - less energy on finding food - less energy avoiding predators - more energy competing for mates It says that otters indirectly make it easier for abalones to get food.

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

    85% picked this

  4. Small abalone species tend to

    Unrelated to Goal

    This isn't connecting the arrival of the otters to a change in the abalone species in regards to ... - less energy on finding food - less energy avoiding predators - more energy competing for mates

    4% picked this

  5. Otters have a preference for

    Cheats a Background Fact

    This answer provides a potential story in which large abalone develop and then otters move in, because they love those big abalones more than the small ones. But we were told that the species of large abalone developed from a smaller one only after otters moved in and began to dominate. Otter moved into these waters. There were only small abalones when the otters moved in. The otters began to dominate. They prey on abalones. Yet, somehow a species of larger abalone developed. This answer isn't helping us with that mysterious final fact at all.

    6% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

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

Save and practice this skill
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