Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Hard

PT150 S2 Q23 ExplanationIt has been argued that the immense size

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

TopicsRole

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Stimulus

It has been argued that the immense size of Tyrannosaurus rex would have made it so slow that it could only have been a scavenger, not a hunter, since it would not have been able to chase down its prey. This, however, is an overly hasty inference. T. T. rex, would probably have been slower than T. rex.

What this question is testing

Role

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.

The claim that T. rex could only have been a scavenger, not a hunter, plays which one of the following

Answer choices, explained

  1. Too Strong: logically inconsistent13% picked this

    It is a hypothesis that is claimed in the argument to be logically inconsistent with the conclusion

    Logically inconsistent means the same thing as "contradictory", which is an incredibly strong accusation. Our author isn't saying that anyone has contradicted anyone else. She is just saying, "It would be premature to assume that hypothesis is true. That hypothesis may be false, if T. Rex's prey were even slower than it.

  2. Too Strong: probably false36% picked this

    It is a hypothesis that the argument contends is

    When an author says "you made a hasty inference", she's saying "your conclusion wasn't proven by your evidence". That doesn't mean the conclusion is more likely to be wrong than right. It just means that there is still some doubt about whether the conclusion is right. The argument is only contending that the hypothesis could be false.

  3. Correct45% picked this

    It is a hypothesis that the argument attempts to undermine by calling into question the

    Why this is right

    The author calls this hypothesis "a hasty inference", which is saying "it is premature to draw your conclusion. Your evidence has not fully proved your conclusion (it was insufficient to prove it)." She undermines the hypothesis by showing how it could be false, if T. Rex had even-slower prey. Is the fact that T. Rex was heavy and slow sufficient to show that T. Rex didn't hunt? No. It's possible that T. Rex hunted animals bigger and slower than it was.

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

  4. Wrong Role Too Strong: false4% picked this

    It is offered as evidence in support of a hypothesis that the argument concludes

    This claim isn't evidence for a hypothesis. It is the hypothesis. And the author doesn't conclude that the hypothesis is false, just that it hasn't yet been proven (hasty to conclude it).

  5. Wrong Role2% picked this

    It is offered as evidence that is necessary for drawing the conclusion advanced

    We're looking for something like Counterpoint / Thing the Author is Objecting to. It wouldn't make sense to say that a Counterpoint is an idea the author needs to draw her conclusion. Why would you need an opposing point in order to draw your conclusion?

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