Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT156 S2 Q2 ExplanationBody temperature can be estimated

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

TopicsWeaken

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Stimulus

Body temperature can be estimated by the relative proportion of two oxygen isotopes in bone. Such estimates derived from dinosaur fossils suggest that dinosaurs had nearly the same body temperature in their limbs as in the rest of their bodies. Typically, the core body temperature of cold-blooded temperature in their limbs. Thus, dinosaurs were probably warm-blooded.

What this question is testing

Weaken

Your task

Find the choice that makes the argument's conclusion less likely to be true.

Common trap

Answers that look negative but attack a claim the argument never relied on.

Winning move

Find the assumption the argument depends on, then pick the choice that undermines it.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
2.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens

Answer choices, explained

  1. No Impact: slightly9% picked this

    Large warm-blooded animals keep their core body temperature slightly higher than the body temperature

    Too Narrow: Large

  2. Correct85% picked this

    The fossilization process introduces changes to bones such that their original oxygen isotope ratios

    Why this is right

    Answer B is correct.

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

  3. Trap2% picked this

    Oxygen was more abundant in Earth's atmosphere during the period in which

    Irrelevant Comparison: atmospheric oygen then vs. now

  4. Trap3% picked this

    Small warm-blooded animals like mice tend to have more uniform body temperatures than do large

    Irrelevant Comparison: small vs. large warmblooded animals

  5. Trap1% picked this

    Warm-blooded animals are more active and use more oxygen than

    Irrelevant Comparison: activity and oxygen use in warm vs. cold blooded animals

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