Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT2 S2 Q18 Explanation

Learning how to build a nest

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

TopicsWeaken

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Stimulus

Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. For example, Dr. Snow has recorded the success of a number of blackbirds in several successive years. He finds that birds nesting for the first time are less successful in breeding than are older birds, and the nest. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience.

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
18.

Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken

Answer choices

  1. Trap6% picked this

    Blackbirds build better nests than other

  2. Correct71% picked this

    The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first

    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. Trap7% picked this

    The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting

  4. Trap10% picked this

    Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and

  5. Trap6% picked this

    Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they

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