Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT2 S2 Q21 Explanation

One method of dating

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

TopicsMust be True

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Stimulus

One method of dating the emergence of species is to compare the genetic material of related species. Scientists theorize that the more genetically similar two species are to each other, the more recently they diverged from a common ancestor. After comparing genetic material from giant pandas, red pandas, raccoons, coatis, and all few million years later, some 10 million years before giant pandas diverged from the other bears.

What this question is testing

Must be True

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
21.

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from

Answer choices

  1. Trap6% picked this

    Giant pandas and red pandas are more closely related than scientists originally

  2. Trap2% picked this

    Scientists now count the giant panda as the eighth species

  3. Trap17% picked this

    It is possible to determine, within a margin of just a few years, the timing of

  4. Correct71% picked this

    Scientists have found that giant pandas are more similar genetically to bears

    Why this is right

    Answer D is correct.

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

  5. Trap4% picked this

    There is substantial consensus among scientists that giant pandas and red pandas are equally

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